Zoom Classroom versus Physical Classroom - Which is better?

I completed a training marathon over the last 4 consecutive days over Zoom.

Yes, 9.30 am to 5.30 pm for 4 full days!

It was rather stressful because I was experimenting with a modified agenda.

I was worried the participants cannot finish the hands-on project on time. I was worried I cannot teach successfully as I could in the physical classroom.

What worked?

- The original physical classroom group project was modified into an individual project.

- I made the participants do more work, shooting 12 scenes instead of the original 5 scenes.

- To my surprise, the final edited work was fantastic from every participant... and on time!

It was a joy seeing total beginners learning and creating near professional-looking videos in such a short span of time.

What did not work?

- What did not work for me is actually what may not work for me in the future... I may not want to go back to physical classroom teaching.

What did I learn?

- My Zoom participants learned and achieved more than my physical classroom participants. (Maybe because they have more exciting things to shoot in their home environment than in a boring classroom set up)

- My Zoom participants could interact and help each other better than my physical classroom participants. (Everyone could see an individual's computer screen whenever the individual has an issue with video editing)

- I could demonstrate most of the equipment I own from my home studio, otherwise which I will never bring to the training room. (...And of course, at the end of the day it takes me only a few seconds to plonk into my sofa instead of commuting back home)

What could be done better next time?

Deep down in my heart, I wish this new normal will continue even after the Vaccine is found for COVID-19.

What do you think?

Adrian Lee

https://www.videolane.com/courses/basic-videography/