Enhancing Student Learning in a Virtual Classroom Using Video Conferencing Tools

Abstract

Virtual Classroom is a class conducted online were student and instructor are able to interact and communicate two way in real time. Various technologies are used for implementation of virtual classroom sessions (VCs). Video Conferencing is most commonly sued methods to conduct VCs. There are three major problems commonly faced in effective implementation of VCS such as instructor centric, Students centric and environment centric. The solution this studies proposed is to look for video conferencing tools that meet the needs and demands of online learning. For this purpose, a quasi-experimental study was conducted where five carefully selected video conferencing tools were tested to assess their impact on student learning and engagement. This was done by arranging parallel classroom sessions, both in Virtual Classroom and Traditional Classroom. The participants involved were undergraduate students of SEECS at National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad.A Survey was conducted to look for the best video conferencing tool that worked best fir both learner and instructor. Through a quasi-experimental design, it was found that the students who experienced the VCs sessions remained highly engaged throughout the duration of sessions. The students’ scores in posttests and their final exam grade suggested that these VCs had positive impact on their conceptual understanding, the tool which received that maximum positive response from instructor and students were Zoom. Thus Zoom was selected as the best that works best for the VCs environment. The student was successful as the results rejected both null hypothesis, that VCs have positive impact on student learning and engagement and conceptual understanding. Students in controlled groups were able to outperform the students in experimental group in terms of both engagement and conceptual understanding.Virtual Classroom as an effective way for enhancing students’ learning and engagement. As the purpose was to conduct VCs sessions which can replaced the traditional classrooms by incorporating the features that has stopped people for going fully online such as increased student-student interaction and student-teacher interaction. VCs has the potential to instill 21st century skills of communication and critical thinking by exposing the students to relevant online activities. As a result, the innovative teaching and learning approach brought in much needed excitement into classroom environment – and makes learning fun and interesting