Free Virtual Classroom Solutions
What’s the difference between a video conferencing app like Zoom or WebEx and actual virtual classroom software as we discuss below?
Well, you can find a really great breakdown on the eLearning Industry article Virtual Classrooms vs. Web Conferencing.
It comes down to purpose.
Why do these solutions exist? In web conferencing apps, you can connect from anywhere with your webcam and share your screen.
Is that a classroom? Is that the best way to engage your learners? Probably not.
Web conferencing apps enable some basic things, but they do not offer the flexibility nor direction of purpose-built tools for online instruction like the best virtual classroom software.
When discussing the difference between video conferencing apps or virtual classroom software, I like to talk about cars.
There are many different cars that are great for many different things.
If I live in a city, then a subcompact car is perfect for running errands and fitting in parking spots, but if I’m commuting 2 hours each way, then I’d probably opt for a sedan.
The point is you want to make sure you are investing in a solution that meets your specific needs.
How To Choose The Best Virtual Classroom Software?
Will you be teaching several students simultaneously or more one on one lessons? Will you be providing courses for students or training with adults? People in training and development use virtual classroom platforms a lot more nowadays. Instructors in the K-12, higher learning and tutoring spaces have also stepped up their use of online learning platforms.
So how do you choose the best virtual classroom software for your particular purpose?
Well, you’ll need to understand what is important to you, your facilitators or teachers, and your learners and students.
The best way to do this is to first brainstorm with key stakeholders on what you really need to deliver an amazing learning experience.
I suggest creating a list of features that you absolutely “must have” along with a list of features that are “nice to have”.
You can then start comparing some of the virtual classroom software options you come across to see where they land.
Once you narrow down your list, you can reach out to each company and try out their virtual classroom software for free.
It’s incredibly important to testrun your preferred virtual classroom software before making a decision.
To help you on your journey, we have compiled a list of the 7 best virtual classroom software solutions in 2019.
The list isn’t scientific, but we took into account ease of use, pricing and features.
The Best Virtual Classroom Software For Online Teaching
Well, what do you know? Newrow Smart is on the best virtual classroom software for online teaching list published on the Newrow blog.
Seriously though, our position on this list is not without merit.
As the great LeVar Burton liked to say, you don’t have to take our word for it.
Try Newrow for Free and continue using it for free as you like.
Newrow is purpose-built for teaching online - virtual classroom software at its core! You can create online courses and engage your participants in virtual classes and webinars all through a completely branded portal.
Virtual classes are 100% web-based - no Flash, no downloads, no installations - with collaborative tools like a digital whiteboard, content management system to share presentations and videos, screen sharing, cloud recording, breakout rooms, real-time notes, live quizzes and more.
Newrow supports LTI specifications and easily integrates into all major LMSs Totally, worth a look.
It’s hard to beat free.
BigBlueButton was one of the first entries into the virtual classroom software market.
The project started in 2007 and became available as an open source project in 2009! BigBlueButton is built for online teaching with features such as the ability to share files and your desktop, interactive whiteboard, and up to 15 webcams that can broadcast at one time.
BigBlueButton also integrates into most major learning management systems.
The Best Virtual Classroom Software For You
From anywhere across the globe, you are one click away from your learners learning with their fellow peers. Virtual classroom platforms will provide an opportunity to keep everyone focused and engaged with high quality, real time audio and video, and suites of collaborative tools to help you transport distracted viewers into more active learners.
When you have a clear idea on what you need and what you want, then it makes it easier for you to explore these platforms as well as others with a consistent perspective.
We have to remember that the best virtual classroom software for online teaching is going to provide you not only a consistent, reliable experience 24/7/365, but it’s going to delight your facilitators and learners.
Learning is supposed to be engaging and fun, collaborative and interactive.
Choosing the right virtual classroom software for your organization is going to enable your organization to transfer knowledge to your learners more effectively and create more successful outcomes.
6 Free Platforms for Teaching Online
Have you thought about teaching an online course or simply supplementing your face-to-face course with an online component?
Whether you're considering sharing your expertise via a completely online course or creating a hybrid, you now have a universe of options available for online teaching platforms to you.
Here are some of the best online learning sites available.
Educators will want to explore these platforms and all of the features they offer.
Udemy
This is a massive online teaching platform with over 2 million students worldwide and 13,000 courses.
It lets instructors design robust classes including video lectures, PowerPoint files, screencast videos, documents, audio files, text, and mashup videos.
The platform is completely free for instructors to create their courses which they may offer either for free or for a fee.
If there is a fee involved, Udemy takes a percentage of that.
This is a very professional-looking platform that has a lot to offer.
RCampus
One of several online learning platforms, RCampus can be used to create courses, student assignments, keep grades, hold class discussions, and post many types of educational content such as videos, links, images, etc.
It can also be used as an ePortfolio management system in which both students and faculty can "build multiple, fully-functional presentation portfolios for demonstrating their skills and knowledge or for career development".
RCampus Personal Edition Free
RCampus Enterprise Edition Contact for pricing
Classroom Plus Unlimited Upgrade $4.95/month
Gradebook Plus Unlimited Upgrade $4.95/month
Peer 2 Peer University
P2PU is a grassroots open education project that offers free university-level courses.
It is run by volunteers.
Instructors can create courses and offer curriculum in the form of slideshows, videos, documents, and discussion boards.
Enrollment in courses is limited to provide the best experience for the learner, making it one of the best online learning platforms.
Teachers Pay Teachers
Rather than a place to teach students, this is a website where instructors can either sell or share freely their teaching materials.
Teachers may post videos, learning kits, lesson plans, study guides, clip art, and much more that they can choose to give away or charge for.
If there is a charge involved, teachers earn royalties on the money earned.
Thinkific
Thinkific is a mostly free online teaching platform that allows you to create and distribute online learning materials.
Designed with a variety of different industries and needs in mind, the platform works on a freemium model, with the basic free subscription including the vast majority of the tools you need to offer and distribute online lessons.
With support for online sales of lessons, student assessments and more, the Thinkific platform offers a robust set of features for students and teachers alike.
How to Get Started Teaching Online
Set Goals
The first thing you'll want to think about is what you're trying to achieve with this online course.
Consider whether the entirety of the course will be on online teaching platforms, if it meant as a supplement to a course, or is meant as a prerequisite before joining a future course, e.g.
an online course on basic math skills which might be required before taking an advanced live class, etc.
Create a Course Plan
Just like a face-to-face course, courses on online learning platforms need to have outlines or course plans for what you'll cover each week.
If these are courses that you've previously offered live, you're one step ahead of the game.
Your course plans will be your maps for what kinds of materials you will need to create for your lessons.
Gather Your Equipment
After you've considered what lessons you want to teach and what online learning platform you want to use, think about what types of equipment, software, and other tools you have at your disposal.
Do you have a video camera or other device capable of capturing HD video?
Do you have a screencasting software program?
If not, sign up for a free trial of Camtasia Studio, or check out screencasting programs such as Screencast-O-Matic or Jing.
Will you need to create PowerPoints?
Do you have a microphone to capture audio?
Once you figure out what your technological capabilities and limitations are, you'll know what kinds of content you'll want to create.
Set Aside Time for Creation and Editing
If you're going to create videos and screencasts for your lessons, consider not only the time it takes to record these, but also how long it takes to edit them, create title slides, render and upload them to online teaching platforms, etc.
Get Started!
Once you've completed all of that planning, jump right in and start building your online course.
It's really only through experimenting on online learning platforms that you'll know what you're doing wrong and what's working.
Ask for feedback from your friends and social networks and get started teaching online!
Teacher Resources
Looking for some free inspiration and teaching resources such as syllabi, class plans, learning materials, etc.?
Get started with these online learning sites, which each offer free open educational resources.
OER Commons
OpenCourseWare Consortium
Wisconsin Online Resource Center
World Lecture Project