Effective communication in educational institutions is an important, yet often taken for granted, part of students’ educational experiences. The more opportunities students have to communicate with one another, the more opportunities they have to learn from one another’s knowledge and viewpoints. Communication can aid in the development of critical thinking, listening and problem solving skills, and can greatly contribute to a student’s academic success.
While communication is commonplace in K-12 classrooms, transformations in the education system have made communication outside of the classroom just as necessary as inside the classroom. With an increasing number of students participating in distance learning opportunities, flipped classrooms and blended learning opportunities, communication outside of the classroom has become a vital part of many students’ learning experiences.
Fortunately, communication has become greatly simplified in the digital era. The development of videoconferencing technology has allowed remote students to communicate with their teachers and classmates in real-time, keeping them interconnected and enabling them to benefit from instruction and conversations as if they were present in the classroom.
Videoconferencing technologies have also allowed for the creation of virtual field trips, where students can virtually visit museums and other educational sites without having to leave the classroom.
Furthermore, videoconferencing gives students the opportunity to communicate with experts such as scientists, historians or English professors, as well as students in foreign countries. These conversations allow students to learn from different perspectives and viewpoints that they may not necessarily hear from teachers or fellow classmates.
With numerous videoconferencing technologies available on the market, it’s important your school understands the videoconferencing features that will help enhance students’ learning. View the following slideshow to learn which features are most important when using videoconferencing technology in the classroom.
Rachel Quetti is the editor of K-12 TechDecisions, aimed at helping K-12 professionals make better decisions about technology purchases for their classrooms, schools and school districts. Rachel joined the TechDecisions team in 2015 and covers the latest technology trends in the K-12 market.Get in Touch: [email protected] More by Rachel Quetti
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