As technology advances, so can the tools to help students succeed. Video conferencing and Interactive Television (ITV) learning provides teachers and students with unique opportunities by enhancing and expanding access to education. Here are some great ways that video conferencing is benefitting 25% of students in the U.S. today.
1. Video Conferencing Supports Rural Students through Improved Access
One of the most powerful applications of video conferencing technology is the ability to extend access to education to areas that need it most. A rural school with staffing challenges—for example, one without an instructor for a particular subject—can benefit from the lower cost and expanded access of ITV education. Teachers can bring in experts without worrying about travel costs, and remote teachers can provide high-quality education through crystal-clear video and audio.
For schools with limited budgets or travel constraints, video conferencing can also open up opportunities for students to experience virtual field trips, assemblies, or even share a classroom experience with students across the globe.
2. Universities Can Extend their Curricula to Satellite Campuses
For colleges and universities that offer online and classroom learning, ITV solutions provide a blended approach that can supplement and enhance both options. Classroom lecturers can share their lessons, for example, to extend their curricula to multiple satellite campuses or online learners. This functionality improves access to education for students, more realistic schedules for instructors, and lower costs for educational institutions.
Video conferencing tools also prepare college and university students for today’s workplace needs. An IHS Markit survey found that 86% of companies use video conferencing software, and college students familiar with this collaborative tech will have an advantage as they enter the workforce.
3. Schools Can Deliver Content for Different Learning Styles
Targeting students’ learning styles is a critical component of effective teaching. Video conferencing can meet the needs of students who prefer audiovisual materials, as well as offer an opportunity for interactive learning through real-time questions and feedback. ITV solutions also enable students to access previous lessons later on for repetition and review.
For students who prefer to learn by doing, video conferencing opens up unique opportunities. For example, language teachers have begun to use the technology to set up lessons where their students can practice their skills with native speakers – such as speaking French with students from France.
4. Teachers Receive Access to Supplemental Resources for Classrooms
Virtual conferencing provides many great opportunities for supplemental education in the classroom. For teachers who would otherwise show a video to complement a particular lesson, ITV solutions invite them to bring in a guest lecturer who can answer questions in real-time. With tight educational budgets decreasing field trips nationally, video conferencing also empowers teachers to take their students on virtual trips without leaving the classroom.
Another significant benefit for teachers is the ability to attend offsite conferences, collaborate with other schools, and earn PD credits without accruing high travel costs for their schools. Video conferencing can also expand teachers’ capacity for parent-teacher conferences and other communications where there may be travel issues or time constraints preventing a face-to-face meeting.
5. Students Experience Flexible, Collaborative Learning
Interactive learning powered by audiovisual capabilities can create an opportunity for collaboration amongst students and teachers. These tools empower users both in and out of the classroom:
Video Conferencing in Class
For classroom sessions, either in-person or remote, ITV learning can support tools like group problems, polls, surveys, and in-lecture notes saved to reviewable sessions. This technology is particularly effective when paired with an interactive whiteboard that captures and saves the content of multiple users at once.
Video Conferencing Outside the Classroom
Video conferencing can support collaborations such as study groups or group projects, enabling individuals to work on documents, presentations, or spreadsheets together. This tech is also valuable to remote teachers to support one-on-one learning or a “flipped classroom” model.
How to Get the Most Out of Video Conferencing in Schools
While video conferencing tools are designed to provide bright, clear video and audio quality, the user’s internet connection will impact the ultimate quality of ITV solutions. Similarly, these solutions can present challenges to instructors who are unfamiliar with the technologies used in video conferencing. This is why it is best for schools to work with ITV providers like CDS Office Technologies to explore comprehensive service options that fit their needs and those of their students.
At CDS Office Technologies, we have been a leader in video, communications, and IT solutions for over 40 years. Contact us today to learn more about our video conferencing solutions, interactive whiteboards, managed network services, and more!
