Teachers of all educations, from basic, to middle and higher, are debating on the networks about which tools are best adapted to return to classes under the hybrid modality.
The idea is to keep in touch with the students without losing, as much as possible, the virtues of being in school.
In this sense, the different tools for video conferences are in the focus of the discussion, since according to the needs, the levels of connectivity, the type of activities carried out and even personal tastes, it is better to Zoom, Teams, Meet or Google’s general tool, Classroom.
The discussion in the networks also fundamentally goes through the need for training, something that is not common to most teachers and professors, who were taken by surprise by the pandemic. The same as the difficulties of connection and the lack of necessary technological tools. This happens in most Latin American countries, from Mexico to Argentina.
Microsoft Teams
Regarding the video conferencing application Microsoft Teams, for example, in general teachers and professors value the simplicity of the tool, although they understand the need not to be able to link it natively with Google Classroom, which is a more complete platform where students can, for example, attend.
Teams is a platform that is being used a lot in universities and large companies since it allows integrating video calls and has high compatibility with a wide range of devices, both under Windows (both software are owned by Microsoft), as well as macOS, Android and iOS. On the other hand, it is free to use if it is used on the network, without downloading the program. And the basic version is free.
An advantage of Teams is that it offers a wide possibility to open different conversation channels where you can talk about specific topics.
On the other hand, the use of the file sharing tools, class scheduling and the way to share the screens among the conference attendees is simple.
Google Meet (and its close relationship with Classroom)
In the case of Google Meet, the great advantage of the tool is 100 percent interoperability with Google Classroom, since both tools belong to Alphabet). Many teachers, when the lockdown began, chose Zoom for their classes in the first place, because it was the most famous “brand” for video calling at the time.
However, as time went by, they became “friends” with Meet because they understand that it is easier to use and even with a modest connection is enough to offer a good user experience. Also, native linking to Classroom is key.
One of the advantages of Google Meet is the possibility of integrating the Google calendar, scheduling chats, setting video conference schedules and sharing documents on Google Drive through Classroom without having to leave the applications.
Presentations can also be made with ease.
Although Google Meet is free in its most basic version, there are payment options that offer greater storage possibilities and other additional tools. Likewise, the free version in most cases is sufficient.
In mid-2020, Meet reported three million new users per day in the world and more than 100 million daily meetings. Its growth was exponential.
In the case of Classroom, the most frequent questions and queries –according to Google Trends– have been How to send assignments by classroom? How to upload assignments to Classroom? y We’re sorry, but you don’t have access to Classroom y How to use Classroom in student mode?
As for Meet, the question with the highest increase in 24 hours (+ 1,650%) is How to raise your hand in Meet ?.
Zoom
Zoom, meanwhile, was the “star” of the pandemic. When the period of isolation due to Covid-19 began, it went from being an unknown application to occupying the first place in preferences. In the midst of the pandemic, it achieved revenues of 2.6 billion dollars and a growth of 320 percent in 2020.
But Zoom has already started to lose market share in recent months. In fact, this can be seen in the financial result that Zoom Video Communications Inc presented this August 30, where he states that demand for your video conferencing services is slowing after the boom of 2020.
For this information, Zoom shares fell 8 percent in after-hours trading on Wall Street on Tuesday.
The app is really versatile and, therefore, it gained followers. In the paid version, individual meetings can be held for unlimited times and group videoconferences of up to 500 people. In free Zoom, only conferences of up to 40 minutes and no more than 100 members.
As with Meet and Teams, encounters can be recorded and later shared with participants. One of the most frequently asked questions (a weak point for the app): How to activate Zoom audio? and How to activate the sound in Zoom? have been trending on Google Trend due to difficulties in figuring out how to do it.
Although the use of digital whiteboards are available in Meet and in Teams, Zoom managed to offer them in a simpler way and has become one of the tools most valued by teachers and professors when they return to school, both in Mexico and in Mexico. many other countries coming out of quarantines.