Virtual classroom software is a learning environment that supports online interactions and educational activities between instructors and trainees during training activities. Such apps can increase the value of online learning by addressing the students' needs or provide you with a platform for corporate training. So, in this article, we will describe how to build software for a virtual classroom to create online courses.
Online learning has become a safe and effective learning option as the COVID-19 pandemic has turned the personal and professional world upside down. It is important to note that even before the pandemic, the global e-learning market was already showing significant annual global growth. Experts expect it to reach $ 336.98 billion by 2026, with a CAGR of 9.1% from 2018 to 2026 (Syngene Research, 2019). And the growth estimates are likely to be updated due to the pandemic.
All online learning providers continue to see a sharp increase in demand for services. So now is probably a good time to turn your ideas into a full-fledged online learning platform.
This new learning experience goes beyond the physical classroom and training centers: according to the 21st-century campus report, 61 percent of institutions offer virtual learning, and 53 percent of students have taken a class that offers virtual learning. The shared virtual space hosts many tools to aid the learning process, including a whiteboard, videoconferencing, instant messages, etc. These tools may vary from one software to another. Besides, you can build a virtual classroom to support your teaching objectives with convenience and effectiveness.
Structured classrooms led by instructors have an advantage over self-taught lessons. Virtual classrooms allow the flow of experiences from experts to the trainees, regardless of the physical location of the experts or the trainees. However, to ensure the quality of this exchange, there are multiple factors that you should consider when choosing the best software for online teaching to suit your requirements.
Video conferencing abilities are vital to such software. You aren't limited in the number of participants by the capacity of a room or lecture hall, and they can all see and hear the instructors live, similar to a face-to-face setting.
The instructor can also see the learners in real-time, which makes the class dynamic and interactive. Sure you can have separate software for video sharing, but having video conferencing abilities integrated into your virtual classroom is much more convenient (e.g., students don’t have to click through various tabs or log in to different services).
It’s no secret that interactive education provides better recall and value than passive learning. Your platform for eLearning should provide the tools to engage your audience, features that prompt them to ask questions, take quizzes, or participate in discussions. Students need to have access to a raise-your-hand tool allowing them to draw the teacher's attention if they want to request clarification, for example.
Some software platforms provide a “break out” feature, which allows the instructor to break a large class into smaller groups (e.g., 50 people into 10-people groups) to conduct certain activities in the break out rooms. This is a way to increase collaboration between students or trainees.
Testing is an important aspect of learning. It could be hard to test your students if your virtual class software does not provide you with testing options. This includes the ability to set up timed tests that time out automatically, an auto-grading system, and instant feedback to the learner with the results.
This is also useful for corporate training purposes where the continued appraisal is an integral part of each training.
Instant communication tools allow the instructor to promptly respond to any questions and concerns raised by the trainees. This is crucial because participants may not be eager to ask a question later after the lecture, which is a missed teaching opportunity.
These tools aren’t limited to instant text messages, but could also include file sharing, scheduling calendars, and anything else that could facilitate interaction.
Some eLearning platforms are rich with reference materials like links, notes, and appendices. When these aids are presented readily to the learners, they’ll be more eager to make use of them. Many learners don’t have the time to search for further info about the subject at hand. And a better teaching technique would be to offer them materials you know they will benefit from at certain stages of the learning.
For pre-recorded online courses, the software should be able to store all your data like video lectures, notes, assignments, and calendars. It should also provide trainees with the ability to download the learning materials for self-paced learning and revision.
Even in live lectures, storage options are important. You may need to record the lectures and make them available online. Your learners may need to have a rewind option to review something they missed.
Quantitatively measuring the students’ progress is one of the key parts of learning and the software also needs such an option. This can help you track the results and effectiveness of your teaching approaches.
These features of a virtual classroom are essential for the software system to function properly. Yet, you might find that their interpretation in the existing platforms is lacking something. In this case, you can always develop virtual learning software. This can be very useful, especially when you want the software to be built around your business goals and values. You can consult a web development company about the process and the prices for a solution like this.
For virtual classroom software development, the right option is to hire a technical partner or, at least, consulting them. A competent and experienced team of developers can make all the difference in the process. This will allow you to focus on your goals without being overwhelmed with technical details.
According to the mode of teaching you prefer, you can consider two types of custom virtual classrooms. One type is more basic and is useful for pre-recorded lectures and the other can handle live video streaming and live chat. Depending on the type you choose, yyou can create an online classroom software in one or two stages.
Recorded lectures give you the ability to provide a schedule that suits a wider group of people; for example, those who are living in different time zones or have different work schedules. Students can also learn the material at their own pace with an unlimited replay option to revise the information as many times as they need.
When you consult your technical partner about developing software for teaching online that depends on recorded lectures, discuss the following functionality.
This module allows you to create user registration and login forms, as well as sending confirmation emails for registration. You can also build an account page for your students to manage their profiles and notifications.
This module allows you to schedule the learning sessions to a specific time and to plan future learning activities. With a vigorous class timetable, you can schedule repeating and one-time sessions on certain days of the week.
This module can help you with homework management. You can monitor assignments, quizzes, and exams. You can also add an auto-grading system to provide students with feedback and recommendations.
This archive allows you to store all your video lectures in one place to access them easily from anywhere. You can categorize your videos into groups, add tags and info about each course.
This module allows you to easily process the payments for your courses. A popular online payment system like PayPal can be integrated into the software to facilitate selling live courses, lectures, and training so you can get higher revenue faster.
This system allows you to predict the learners’ needs based on their performances and preferences. By offering relevant learning resources to your audience, you have a better chance to engage them more in the learning process.
This module provides the teacher with the tools to create effective learning opportunities for the students. The instructor can upload the teaching material and prepare for the class in advance. Other tools allow them to upload a library of data resources, and to monitor the attendance of students.
Live lecturers are gaining popularity over recorded lectures because they provide more chances of interaction in the classroom. This functionality helps encourage the audience to engage with the instructor and ask more questions along the way. According to this report, 39% of adults who have taken an online live class say that it’s similar in value to the traditional face-to-face format.
If you want to include online streaming to your virtual classroom software, you need to build the functionality from Stage 1 and add the following:
For live sessions, your custom virtual classroom should be able to handle video streaming. The videos should be of good quality with no latency.
This module is also important for live lectures. It allows for instant communication between the instructor and the trainer.
Besides the various modules discussed above, your software can be integrated with third-party tools that add more value to your customized software. They are well-established and tested. Here are some examples:
And last but not least, here are some great examples of existing virtual classroom software you can try out and take inspiration from before building classroom software for teachers.
Docebo is an AI-powered technology that augments learners’ experience by delivering content curation for personalization. In this single environment, you can engage your partners and customers to increase the value of their participation. All this, while automation the tiring and time-intensive tasks.
The Tutor Room comes with essential Learning Management System (LMS) features, so you can set up accounts for tutors and students, upload lessons, and schedule classes easily.
Versal is a creative way to share knowledge across your organization, for corporate training and customer product tutorials.
Adaptiveu is a virtual classroom that can be tailored to your needs. You can use it for teaching students, training employees, or showing your customers how to use your products.
Mindflash LMS creates a convenient environment for the trainers to track course progress or send automated reminders to employees who work at the office, from home, at the office, or in the field.
1. How can you make your own classroom online?
You can create your own classroom online using one of the existing services that we described above. But before that, we advise you to make sure that the ready-made services have all the necessary functionality that will meet your business goals. Otherwise, it is better to turn to an experienced team of programmers who can help you create a custom solution or simply find a developer for your startup.
2. How to get started with virtual classroom software development?
If you have a vision for a future product, you just need to contact us and tell us about your idea. In the first step, there is no need to include technical specifications and other complex documentation. We are ready to discuss ideas with you and help you make your product really interesting and breakthrough. We will tell you in detail about all stages of development and draw up a clear plan. We will also tell you about our completed and current projects so that you can be convinced of our expertise.
3. Where you can see our projects?
You can contact us for detailed information or get acquainted with the cases presented on the site. Among others, you can find a photography management CRM, an app for scientific research in medical laboratories, and financial operations management system.
Online teaching software for teachers and students is an integral element to today’s learning environment. Their use is booming and isn’t expected to stop any time soon. They promise a safe and convenient space for teachers and instructors to share their lectures with students and trainees.
Virtual classroom software can be multi-purpose. You can use it for online tutoring and teaching, employee training, hosting webinars, virtual offices, and live help desks.
With that in mind, it only makes sense to invest in this area, and create an online classroom platform that aligns with your goals and values. The right development team like Gearheart ensures useful experience as well as the necessary skills needed to develop such a complex system. Now you know what to discuss when talking about building a virtual classroom platform.
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