Web conferencing tools allow teachers and students to stay connected during this unprecedented time. From sharing a slideshow presentation to facilitating small group discussions, these learning technologies provide an alternative to physical classrooms. This blog post will provide a general overview of the various web conferencing tools (e.g., Zoom, Collaborate Ultra, Google Meet, Teams) and highlight resources that support online learning and teaching.
Some ideas of how web conferencing tools could be used in the classroom:
- Virtual office hours
- One-on-one appointments with students and parents
- Real-time meetings
- Breakout groups for discussions
- Recording a lesson/presentation/meeting
- Live chatting about a given topic
With a significant portion of teaching taking place online, both teachers and students are looking for a sense of community and a way to maintain regular communication. Web conferencing tools can be used for synchronous teaching given that they “humanize” the online classroom as much as possible. One of the challenges of online learning is that sometimes students can feel isolated and miss the face-to-face interactions with teachers and fellow classmates. With web conferencing tools, not only can student actively participate in real-time meetings, they can also collaborate online for group projects and presentations. For educators, web conferencing tools are ideal for checking in with students on a regular basis and creating space for deeper and complex conversations.
Teacher candidates are invited to check out this list of remote communication options compiled by Educational Technology Support (ETS) in the Faculty of Education. This guide also provides useful tips on how to plan and facilitate synchronous sessions.
- Identify the learning needs and tasks for which you would like to use web conferencing tools
- Check to see if UBC IT or the school district can provide access to these tools
- Install the application and refer to our Scarfe Sandbox resource bank if needed
| Free | FIPPA Compliant | Screen sharing | Recording | Integration with Canvas | |
| Zoom | ✓ (paid plan with premium features available) | ✓ | |||
| Collaborate Ultra | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Google Meet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Microsoft Teams | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Presenting in Collaborate Ultra
Transition to Teaching Online: Presence
