You’ve probably already used video conferencing software at some point for a work meeting, a seminar, or to keep in touch with family and friends across France and around the world. In doing this, you’ve probably noticed how the technology has adapted and become much more user friendly over the years, and is now more diverse than ever, with companies such as Blue Jeans making a conf call simple and cost effective. One area you may not have used yet for tele-conferencing is e-learning. It has already been used in some form for decades to reach students in remote areas and for teaching large groups all at once. This wave means that teaching and learning is no longer restricted to just the classroom or textbooks and is now open to anybody of any age, no matter their location. Here are just a few of the benefits of using video conferencing for learning:

1.     Finding the Perfect Teacher

Whether you want to learn a language or take up a new hobby, there won’t always be a course near where you live or fully qualified teachers you can trust. In some areas, for instance, the only qualification needed to teach English as a second language is to be a native English speaker. Tele-conferencing means you can find teachers for any subject from anywhere in the world, making it much easier to find the right instructor for your circumstances and skill level who you get along with.

2.     Cost Saving

Adult education classes cost a lot of money, as does transportation to reach classes and the additional fees of studio space or materials. Even hiring a personal tutor for your children is costly. Another convenience of video conference calls is that they only require an internet connection and a device which can send or receive audio. Everything else can be done from your home, or even your office or the library if necessary. This makes the fees much cheaper and the learning process much easier and stress free for both student and teacher.

3.     More Effective Teaching Method

Memorising things from a textbook for an exam is becoming an outdated teaching method as it is generally agreed that it doesn’t help the student retain information in the long term. Teachers agree that immersive teaching and using audio and visual materials is a much more effective method in a practical sense, especially for learning a new language. They claim that students learn more and enjoy it when learning doesn’t feel like learning at all—education is more engaging and effective when it’s fun.

For example, students in France video chatted with a class in England so that they could practice their language skills on actual native speakers. This ability to stream video to students in real time makes lessons all the more exciting and productive. Giving students experience using video conferencing technology teaches them the etiquette and practicalities of using it, providing them with skills they can later transfer to the work place. The unique opportunities offered by distance learning make students much more motivated than a traditional lesson listening to a teacher and taking notes would.

4.     Adapt to the Student’s Schedule

Many are arguing that the traditional six hour school day starting at around 8AM is unhealthy for teenagers and that young people’s natural sleep cycles don’t make them active learners until much later in the day. Adult students have the same problem, which is why many feel unmotivated to take up additional learning on top of work and other commitments. Using e-learning as an alternative solves this problem, as it can be adapted for use whenever the student feels most alert so that they can take in the information they are receiving. It is much better than forcing grumpy children to get up in time for school or to drag yourself to a class when you are already tired.

5.     Interact with More People

The downside of the traditional classroom is that our social groups are limited to the people who live in the same geographical areas as us. Some online classes teach students from all over the world simultaneously, opening us up to friendships never possible before.

Teachers can even use guest speakers from anywhere in the world, opening up many opportunities in their lessons. Some middle school students in California, for example, were able to video chat with NASA astronauts and have a virtual tour of their facilities, all thanks to online video technology.

No matter what you or your children are studying, either for professional qualifications or just for fun, look into the opportunities offered by video conferencing equipment to enhance the teaching experience further, open up opportunities, and gain the most from lessons. Even if you previously thought you hated school and learning, using this method may well prove to change your attitude.