Lessons from great teachers go beyond the classroom. Aside from instructing students on reading, writing and arithmetic, great educators help students improve social skills, develop confidence and foster curiosity. Shouldn’t the people who affect our formative years of learning have every tool they need for success? Once seen as unnecessary in the classroom, UCaaS platforms like Webex are now an asset to teachers.
Before the pandemic, teleconferencing software programs were absent from most schools and universities. Today, the rapid need for remote learning requires schools and universities to adopt UC and UCaaS technologies. The pandemic forced educators and students out of the physical classroom and into a digital one. But how do educators adapt to this new normal? And how do teachers, students and parents stay connected no matter their location?
The Power of UC Tools in Schools
Webex is a digital hub that brings together conversation and content. Educators can create virtual classrooms, connect in learning communities and chat with students. Webex offers cloud telephony, video conferencing, messaging and file sharing, all from a single platform.
Webex eliminates the need for a separate voice network, meaning that institutions only need a high-speed broadband connection and IP-enabled phones or devices. Get your pencils ready and read on for why Webex is an excellent option for any education institution.
Webex Features for Educators
Virtual classrooms give teachers new tools for instruction and students new avenues of learning. Whether a brick-and-mortar building or an online learning center, Webex offers resources for instructors and students to work together in different cities or across continents. Video conferencing allows students, parents and teachers to meet from various locations as if they were in the same room. With video, teachers can keep a pulse on how their students are doing. Seeing facial expressions and body language helps teachers determine whether students are engaged and absorbing the subject matter. And, for when things like sick days and connection issues happen, Webex’s recording feature allows students to view virtual class sessions at a later, more convenient date. For the students who never like raising their hand, Webex’s in-meeting chat allows them to ask a question or make a comment without interrupting the instructor.
Using direct and group chatting, students don’t have to wait for an instructor’s email response. Webex’s presence feature helps students know when an educator is available or away. And, unlike email, Webex notifications let teachers know when a student, parent or fellow staff member contacts them in real time. Direct chat is also a great way for teachers to contact students about projects and offer feedback on assignments.
File-sharing is another tool that helps teachers provide examples and visual aids to students. Educators can share class related documents before a lesson or exam. Webex spaces is another great tool for an educator’s arsenal. Teachers can create separate spaces to encourage student debate and discussion.
Administrators will also like Webex’s Cloud Calling Corporate Directory. It’s easy to contact colleagues with a simple search. And, we can’t forget the parents. Educators can use external collaboration to chat and meet with parents or guardians.
The Benefits of Teaching with Webex
Dependable
From students on their phones to background noise during virtual lessons, teachers deal with a lot of distractions. Let’s not add software issues and connection downtimes to the list. Educators need technologies that don’t lag or come with constant interruptions. Persistent system outages create negative effects for staff, students and parents.
Being cloud-based, Webex ensures its platform offers reliable service and — in the unlikely case of an outage — quick restoration. If one server goes down, there are redundancies that will switch on and take over. This means less equipment for schools and fewer headaches for teachers and students.
Flexible
With remote learning becoming the new normal, flexibility is essential for education today. The Webex app allows faculty to use different devices to connect to fellow staff, students and parents, no matter their location.
Webex tools provide a platform for faculty to connect through voice, chat and video — whether on their desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone. Educators can collaborate on establishing new courses, lesson plans and student activities.
Secure
Schools already have guidelines in place around email and document privacy but they lack the same type of security for cloud-based communications. Now that teachers use virtual platforms, schools should ensure that the appropriate levels of security are in place. Virtual classrooms capture what students say and share. If schools want to protect their faculty and students, they need a secure platform.
Webex offers secure virtual meetings with options to add administrators, hosts and participants. All virtual meetings with Webex have end-to-end encryption, identity and access management and include multi-factor authentication and secure dial-in access. Webex also monitors security risks, like someone trying to upload malicious software.
These security controls help teachers manage virtual classrooms or host private meetings. If you want educators to feel confident with the tools you provide, you need to offer secure technologies.
Costs
When adopting new technologies, education trails behind compared to other sectors. The recent mass shift to cloud-based communications is no exception. Evolving technologies require an IT staff and a sizable investment. Many schools don’t have the personnel or the funds to keep up. Webex offers predictable monthly pricing and provides a scalable platform to meet a school’s needs. Plus, TelNet’s support team and managed infrastructure reduce the need for network upkeep. We take care of the heavy lifting so institutions can focus on other projects, like extracurricular programs or better food options in the cafeteria.
No Teacher Left Behind
Technology everywhere is evolving and shifting. The acceptance of a remote and hybrid workforce means offices sit empty, and employees meet deadlines from home. Organizations see the benefits of UCaaS platforms like Webex. It’s time for education institutions to apply these advantages for teachers. Software is now a service, with updates rather than permanent downloads. Cisco’s Webex has the ability to shift and evolve along with educators and lesson plans. TelNet’s UC with Webex provides these UCaaS tools. And, we have a great team for troubleshooting and support. We want educators to have all the tools they need to do what they do best, Educate.
