It’s a disruption. With other applications trainers have a small screen to give their training. With our new Virtual Classroom they have a beautiful 360˚ classroom … to give the perfect online training.
We’ve chosen a completely new approach. In this blog we zoom in on our vision, our new technological approach and why this is relevant.
Online training alternatives
For online training (doing it ‘live’), trainers/teachers usually choose for video conferencing solutions or webinars.
Applications such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Cisco’s Webex. Also Skype for Business, Google Hangouts or BlueJeans are used, but unfortunately they’re limited in terms of presentation tools.
There are many webinar options such as GoToWebinar, WebinarJam, ON24 and Demio. They allow you to present your training in detail and there’s some level of interactivity.
What’s missing?
Online training was already big and growing before the Corona crisis. But Corona gave it another push.
In our talks with corporate trainers, it became clear that they are not satisfied with what is currently on offer. Their online classroom doesn’t feel like a proper classroom, it doesn’t have the right facilities and interaction with students is often poor.
This is caused by the limitations of the current technology. Too many things have to happen in the small screen space that is available: the trainer, the presentation screen, the interaction tools, the students … everything is packed in this small 2D space.
This is because all these solutions are based on the wellknown, yet old technology of video calling / conferencing.
Completely new approach
Instead of the small (16:9) window, we have started with a much bigger area, the 360˚ room.
This allows us to position all training elements in a much better way and even add important new features (three presentation screens instead of one, live post-its and live polls).
We want the experience to be as close as possible to the real classroom, of course keeping in mind that this an online environment.
Good student interaction is key. All students join in the special webcam bar. The trainer has various smart tools to manage his/her training session.
With this, we have created a completely new online training experience.
Ease of use: no downloads, accessible on all machines
As a trainer or student, you don’t have to download anything: our Virtual Classroom is browser-based.
We use the latest technology (WebGL, webrtc) which is nowadays built into all major web browsers, even Microsoft Edge is uptodate now.
As it is browser-based, trainers and students can use it from any machine: desktop, laptop, tablet and mobile phone.
Virtual Reality but no VR glasses
The VR glasses are a great innovation, we love using them.
However, it’s our experience that no student or trainer is going to use these glasses for 1-3 hours to follow a training or instruction. It’s too uncomfortable and it feels also very unnatural being in your work place with these glasses on.
There’s also another disadvantage. Students can see the instructor but the students are not really attending the training themselves: they’re spectators, not participators. That’s not the experience you’re looking for.
Better? Yes, we think so
We have tested the Virtual Classroom with trainers and students, here in The Netherlands and as far as Sydney and Lima. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s an online training experience they hadn’t experienced before.
It’s easy to use and can be used to train students and employees wherever they are in the world.
With the launch of our new 3D Virtual Classroom we intend to give trainers, companies, schools and universities a new tool to achieve their goals: making their students, employees and organisations better.
Do you want to see it in action? Please contact us and ask for a demo.
