Virtual Classroom Softwares and Webinar Software Comparison

During the 2020 pandemic, when my management asked me to compare the softwares (Paid or open source) so that those can be procured. So I prepared, compared and tabulated the various features of Virtual classroom softwares and Webinar tools. For those who wanted to procure these tools may make use of this table. Please get me the approval if you want to use this table for your research/papers or journals, etc.

Virtual Classroom Software

ZOOM.us

• This is the easiest option for Work From Home Option
• Each user can create an account of free and they can engage in parallel sessions across multiple slots (only limitation is 40 minutes for 100 participants).
• Once they create an account, they can share the link in MOODLE or any LMS for their class so that the students of the particular teacher only can join the session.

For Microsoft Teams:

• All the users of can create an account with Microsoft using the official email ID and start using Teams. Many features of Team are relaxed for the ongoing COVID Pandemic. So we can make use of them efficiently. Also for universities/schools/colleges, they can procure licenses for teachers and use for students is free.

For Google Classrooms

• It’s a powerful Software compared to all the above as it is a tight integration with Google Ecosystem. Whatever the higher education is needed, everything this software handles.
• The universities/colleges/schools can apply for Google Classroom with google directly.

For Big Blue Button:

• The Faculty can start using Big Blue Button through MOODLE itself by creating an activity for conducting Online Virtual Classroom Sessions.
• This is a old software which was there even before the pandemic and if the server is integrated with the LMS, it can handle any number of users.

Webinar Software Comparison

Here is the list of webinar softwares that can be used for Work from Home option

My Suggestion:

OBS + YoutTube

To know more about the OBS Software, follow the video

Pros:

• OBS + YouTube will do a magic as we can customize what to be shown to the audiences right away from OBS.
• OBS is Free and open Source, Just the Streaming key from Youtube have to be pasted in the OBS software and rest will be taken care by OBS.
• For Example, if the streaming is already started at 10AM and a user joins by 11AM and still he can able to see the video since 10AM by going back. He can back track upto 12 hours of video (Which no other platform gives this facility).
• We can adjust the latency in the beginning of the session on Normal, low and ultralow latency (1440p and 4K are not possible).

Cons:

• OBS is a complicated software with many customizations, one has to learn it before doing it.
• Support avaialble through online forums.

In the paid platform, Support is a plus.