6 Alternatives To Zoom For Online Teaching Without Breaking The Bank!
20th April 2023
Research reveals that by 2029 the English language learning market is expected to reach $69.62 billion globally.
The numbers are self-explanatory as you can gauge the surging demand for English teachers all around the world. Most schools initially forced their teachers to launch classes online and since teachers were not so ready yet, they naturally took to Zoom and Skype to address their lessons. However, over time, these platforms did not serve the purpose of inquisitive teachers and students and they were struggling to make online ESL teaching interactive and fun.
Thus, the search began for an alternative that can stretch beyond the simple camera and online tech and offer an amazing online classroom environment. Read on to learn about 6 Zoom replacements that are worth exploring.
6 Free Substitutes For Zoom That Teachers Can Use Right Now
If you are concerned about Zoom’s highly questionable security issues, here are some free learning tools to save you from cyber crimes:
1. Google Classrooms
Google always seems to come up with a slick range of tools and its Google Classroom is no different. It offers a full suite of virtual classroom tools for educators to create, manage, share, and review educational materials.
Listed below are some of the pros and cons of the platform to help you make an informed decision.
Pros
- Both teachers and students can easily share their files
- Educators can verify student’s assignment submission times
- Teachers have access to Google Docs, Sheets, etc to create study materials
Cons
- If your students are Chinese, they can’t access Google
- Educators can’t record video or audio lessons
- No quick way to conduct a pool, get feedback or ask questions
2. Mozilla Hubs
This is well known for its highly interactive virtual reality options. Along with teachers students can also explore their three-dimensional environment from their smart devices, virtual reality headset, and desktop.
Take a look at the pros and cons for a better understanding of the app:
Pros
- The imaginative 3D graphic environment makes the app highly engaging and interactive, especially for your young learners
- The platform is packed with tools like marker, pen, and camera to take photos and notes inside the session
- Students and teachers can communicate via audio and chat
- No session time limit unlike the free Zoom version
Cons
- Can be a little inappropriate for older students
- Can be sometimes distracting for students
3. Jitsi-Meet
This is considered to be the top free alternative for Zoom. TEFL teachers offering group virtual classes can split their screens to be able to view all the attendees while users have video and audio options to communicate with each other.
Here is a list of pros and cons:
Pros
- Feels similar to Zoom making it intuitive for students
- Can be used on all smart devices and desktop
- Has a whiteboard feature and an integrated peer document editing tool
- Automatically reduces image quality if the bandwidth is low
Cons
- Not many interactive tools make it suitable for older students
- The screen split option can make it a little difficult to track students if you have very large groups
4. Skype For Business
This is a legacy tool that most people around the globe know how to use. It generally has an excellent connection and therefore is trusted by almost all educators. However, the thing to note is that the business version offers a few extra tools than the free plan.
Pros and cons of Skype for Business tool:
Pros
- Teachers can use video, audio, or chat option to connect with the students
- Educators can record both audio and video options
- The document-sharing system makes it good for distributing EFL learning activities and teaching resources
Cons
- Lack of whiteboard or other interactive tools
- Instant feedback can sometimes be difficult to provide
5. Whereby
This is a sleek and beautiful video conferencing software that is great for small online classrooms. A free plan enables four participants at a time and users can enjoy audio, video, chat, and screen-sharing options.
Listed below are the pros and cons of whereby:
Pros
- Intuitive and simple interface making it easy to use for people of all ages
- For private lessons, teachers can create and lock rooms
- Screen sharing can also be used as a whiteboard tool
Cons
- Only 4 people can be admitted at a time
- No option for document sharing
6. BigBlueButton
This is undoubtedly one of the most comprehensive software for virtual teaching. It is initially tricky to install, but once it's up and running, you will have a whole library of online teaching tools to engage your TEFL learners.
To know more about BigBlueButton, take a look at the pros and cons:
Pros
- Features several interactive tools like audio, chat, whiteboard, webcam, screen sharing, polls, emojis, breakout rooms, etc
- Super simple and easy-to-navigate interface
- No restriction on the number of people per session
Cons
- The application is not compatible with mobile devices, only desktop
- Session timing is limited to 60 minutes
- Teachers can’t record their classes
Pick The Best For Yourself
Getting the right virtual classroom suite is essential for every TEFL teacher as it generally backs you up for online success. There can be nothing worse than buying exorbitant apps only to realize that it has poor features, is hideously slow, and has a bunch of security flaws. Since you have already spent a lot of time and effort in researching and attaining the 500 Hours International TEFL Advanced P.G. Diploma Course certificate, you wouldn't want your online classes to be technically exhausting as well. Try out a mix of the above-mentioned platforms to find your perfect match and get your online sessions running.
