With video conferencing, you can bring the world into the classroom. Lifesize is leading the way to a more interconnected learning experience, and our background working with school districts and universities all over the world has helped us tailor our technology to meet the particular needs of educators.  Here are just a few of the many things schools can do with HD video collaboration technology:

Enhance curriculum with virtual field trips. When time or budget issues make physical travel impossible or impractical, video conferencing saves the day. We worked with the Museum of Nature and Science in Dallas to create a special video conferencing field-trip program, and now 5,000 schools across Texas can visit the museum without having to leave town.

Bring experts to the classroom—virtually. Inviting experts into the classroom is a great way to bring meaning to a lesson, but their job requirements and busy schedules often preclude taking too much time out of their busy days.  Luckily, video conferencing eliminates the time and hassle of travel, making it easy to beam subject-matter experts directly into the classroom from anywhere in the world. Using Lifesize video conferencing technology, the Technical University of Munich was able to connect robotics experts with engineering students for an in-depth, two-week workshop. Video conferencing created an opportunity for these two groups to interact that would have otherwise been prohibitively expensive.

Expand access to students in rural communities. In the past, students in sparsely populated rural areas have missed out on many of the opportunities that their urban and suburban peers have taken for granted; when simply busing to school can take hours, it’s no surprise when education takes a back seat to other obligations.  Connecting these rural students via video conferencing—both allowing them to attend school from home and giving them access to field trips and experts they would otherwise never have the opportunity to experience—can dramatically improve the quality of their learning experience, ensuring that their rights to a public education are finally met in practice and not just in theory.

Connect classrooms in different countries and expand students’ worldview. In our increasingly global society, it’s more important than ever for students to have a greater appreciation for the world around them.  With video conferencing, Alief ISD connects its schools with other schools around the globe to cross traditional classroom boundaries and celebrate literacy and reading. Instantly connecting to other classrooms in countries all over the globe puts a face to geographically distant peoples and cultures, preparing students to be citizens and stewards of the more open, more tolerant and more interconnected world of tomorrow.

Record and archive sessions for future playback. Whether a student missed a class due to absence or just wants to go over the content during their study time, Lifesize recording and playback makes it easy to stay on track and reinforces knowledge transfer. This benefit extends beyond just the students. District staff meetings can be held over video to eliminate travel and recorded for anyone unable to participate live.

Conduct parent/teacher conferences remotely. Avoid scheduling conflicts by meeting with parents remotely. With tools like guest invites and web apps, parents just need an Internet connection and a webcam in order to dial in to a parent/teacher conference. This method is easier on your schedule and theirs.

At Lifesize, we are committed to providing educators, from those at K–12 schools to those at upper-level institutions, with the solutions they need to adapt to an ever-changing world.  These were just a few of the many ways video conferencing can improve the quality and scope of the education you provide your students. For more ways to offer enriching programs beyond the four walls of the classroom, download our guide on the 6 Reasons Why Video Conferencing Is Essential for Education.

Want to learn more about K–12 and higher education video conferencing solutions? Book a demo and talk to an education video conferencing expert.