Online meetings have become essential to handle corporate and educational affairs, especially in the pandemic. The pandemic era is what made these conferencing tools optional to the essential ones. Talking about the educational field, it has been noticed that video conferencing applications are aiding the future learning of students. ((Pratama, Et al., 2020)
Let’s look at the seven top video conferencing tools that guarantees the best E-learning experience.
Zoom:
Zoom is the cloud-based video-conferencing application that allows its users to conduct virtual video and audio conferences, hold webinars, screen sharing, live chats, online classes, and whatnot.
Currently, there are 300 million users of the zoom. This count includes both paying and free users. While using zoom for free, a host can add up to 100 people in his or her meeting, and only 49 of those participants would be eligible to appear on the screen. The video quality of zoom is impeccable as it offers video quality up to 720p. It also has the option of recording the sessions, which can be later on shared with the students, skipped on their online classes.
The two main disadvantage of this app is that under the free plan, the meeting can only last for forty minutes (Not to mention, for any student, it is rather taken as a blessing). The other is a security issue which is known as the zoom bombing. Here, the uninvited students can join and disturb the online session with racist trolls and silly pranks.
Skype Meet Now:
Skype is the product of Microsoft. It would be safe to say that skype is the original video app that has been going strong since the beginning of the day. Being the pioneer, skype is offering a variety of options.
Unlike zoom or any other video conferencing platform, the invitees are best familiar with this app. Skype’s other offerings include group calls of at least 50 people, the unlimited time of the meeting, and you get the option to blur out the whole background as well. The option of recording is also there, also you can add the live subtitles to your conversation, so the international students can understand the classes even more as well.
Google Meets:
Google Hangouts has been giving a tough competition to Zoom. Recently Google has banned internal use of the zoom app because they have their own video conferencing app. Google meet gives a platform for many teachers to conduct their online classes in the most sophisticated way. Google meet allows its users to invite up to 100 people. The host can record the meetings, and the participants can share their screens and can even live stream an HD video.
One of the most critical drawbacks here is that it lacks some advanced features.
GoToMeeting:
GoTo meeting is another famous app for online classes and conferences. GoToMeeting used to dominate the conferencing world, but it has recently been dethroned by other conferencing applications.
GoTo meeting has a slight edge over its competitors for providing a polling option and raising a hand between the class. Other than this, it also allows unlimited meetings. This application is most secured as it follows end-to-end encryption. Along with this, it offers 24/7 customer support, screen sharing from desktops, tablets or even mobile devices.
This app also allows messaging during the meeting, and there is no requirement for a phone for the web audio.
ezTalks Meetings:
The only factor that has helped them in keeping their feet in the market is their adaption to ever-changing trends in the market. The developers of this app have always been dedicated to introducing up-to-date features that could be appreciated by the users.
The students can access this app through Android or iOS devices. The interface of this app is designed with such simplicity that can be adapted by the students easily. Since the zoom application has captured a huge chunk of the market, therefore it is a possibility that most students are not fully aware of its functions.
The offerings of this application include; Unlimited number of meetings, instant scheduled meetings, the option of joining through telephone calls, HD videos and audio, interactive whiteboards, and private and group chats.
Adobe Connect:
Adobe Connect is the application solely made for video conferencing, remote training, or online video or audio meetings. Its features include breakout rooms, personal chats, screen sharing, and many more. It has also allowed its users to carry out the polls in the eLearning course, that way they could get rapid feedback.
A slight inconvenience here is that it is not available for free. The subscription of their services starts from $45 per year.
Bluejeans
Blue jeans are the high-end application for video referencing, and most of the time it has been used by corporate officials. It can be used by the professors as well, as they offer up to 20 breakouts which are best for any group activity in the class.
Another unique offering of this app is that not only you can share the screen with the students, but it also allows the participants to annotate it. Another advantage of this video conferencing app is that offers Dolby sound enables rooms. With such unique offerings, this application is not cheap at all. It might cost you a little extra, but that considers as every penny worth spending.
One last thing! Paying Someone to Take Online Class, Take My Class for Me
After knowing about such quality applications, most people still look for paying someone to take online class as most students still find it hard to adapt to e-learning.
Luckily, we live in a tech-savvy era where students can afford a search to “take my class for me“, which would not have been possible a decade ago. But with true dedication and with the help of such unique and intuitive apps, e-learning can be worth adapting.
References:
Pratama, H., Azman, M. N. A., Kassymova, G. K., & Duisenbayeva, S. S. (2020). The trend in using online meeting applications for learning during the period of pandemic COVID-19: A literature review. Journal of Innovation in Educational and Cultural Research, 1(2), 58-68.
