Top 10 Online Live Streaming Class Platforms for Remote Learning [2023 Update]
The prevalence of online education is unprecedented today. It’s now a new norm and continues to be leaned on by schools, institutions and professionals worldwide. Because of this, the demand for dedicated, reliable, feature-rich online learning platforms has soared.
To accomplish this, high-quality live-streaming technology is necessary. For teachers, it means turning a merely virtual event into a classroom replica with real-time interaction. Professional online learning platforms provide teachers with learning management systems, PowerPoint presentations capabilities and other means for their course creation. These are called online course marketplaces. with an expanding array of options, it can be difficult for teachers and institutions to discern which platform is best.
In this article, we’ll cover the evolving e-learning industry. We’ll compare 10 of the best live streaming and online course platforms for online class creation and presentation. We’ll also provide live-streaming tips for educators and provide industry future possibilities.
Please note that live streaming platform technology and pricing change regularly. By updating the post with e-learning-specific information and guidelines, this post reflects the most accurate information as of November 2023.
Online Learning at a Glance
Before we dive into education, live streaming, and online learning platforms, let’s take a look at some stats and trends that exemplify the state of remote learning:
- The eLearning market has been active for over two decades.
- Online education is cheaper for students and educators.
- Three-fourths of schools planned to incorporate online components before the current bloom.
- Digital learning through a learning management system can help students retain more information.
- Online education continues to grow more popular in higher education, especially since digital teaching techniques have been adopted by all of the Ivy League educational organizations have embraced digital teaching techniques.
- Six million students in the United States are enrolled in online degree programs.
Due to the pandemic, remote learning has snowballed, forcing educational video-on-demand services to get more competitive to capture that increased demand.
Increased competition among such platforms is good news for streamers and broadcasters. Features have advanced, and there will continue to be many more exciting innovations in the space.
The Ever-changing Demand for Digital Learning
Technology has found its way into classrooms worldwide over the past five to ten years. For example, interactive smartboards have replaced old-school projectors and bulky televisions.
Even in traditional classroom settings, homework involves using online learning tools. As a result, many schools require children to have iPads or other tablets as young as elementary school.
Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the spring of 2020, online learning platforms for schools have become very important for students around the globe. At the pandemic’s start, many educators exclusively relied on Zoom live streaming as their online virtual classroom software.
Nearly three years in, educators have now had time to prepare for remote learning. However, many have found that the solution for online learning for grade schools and universities requires more than Zoom.
Many schools have created online learning platforms on their websites with the help of professional video platforms with both live broadcasting and VOD streaming capabilities. That allows them to live stream classes and upload lessons to their remote online learning platforms for students to access video on demand whenever it’s most convenient for them.
A live streaming platform is a cloud-based solution that allows you to live stream, upload videos securely, manage content, and share streams worldwide.
Some online learning platforms that enable live streaming classes, including Mslive, now support Zoom meeting integrations. That means they can rely on their servers and professional streaming tools while accessing Zoom’s video conference function with real-time latency.
Though varied in specific features and cost, these live classroom video hosting platforms typically provide a similar range of tools for video broadcasting. In addition, professional online learning platforms often give you more control over your content than a free online learning platform for education, like YouTube.
Features to Look for in a Live Teaching Platform
Choosing the best online learning platform impacts your student’s digital classroom experience.
When it comes to hosting and broadcasting videos, educators have several specific factors and live-streaming pricing needs that differ from other industries.
Here are a few features that are particularly helpful for creating a platform for live-streaming lectures and other educational materials. Please look for these specific features when choosing the best online learning platform.
1. Security and Privacy Settings
Educational videos are typically restricted to authorized viewers, making privacy and security tools essential.
Look for a live-streaming online video platform fully loaded with privacy and security features, including private hosting, password protection, end-to-end encryption, secure video upload, domain restrictions, and more. Security and privacy settings are essential for schools that want to retain control over the content produced in their live online classes.
2. White-Label Video Player
White-label video streaming refers to content that doesn’t include branding except your own. Most paid video hosting software platforms allow you to stream without mentioning their name to your viewers.
Free video hosting providers, such as YouTube Live and Facebook Live, keep their own branding on the video player and landing page that houses it, which is both unprofessional and distracting to students.
On the other hand, white-label video players also typically only contain third-party ads if you set them up for video monetization. That allows you to set up a more controlled online learning platform.
3. API Access
Application Programming Interface (API) is a tool that allows broadcasters to integrate external apps and programs. For example, video API will enable you to customize your video content management system, whereas player API allows you to customize the actual video player.
API can also help you integrate video tools into web applications, such as online learning platforms like Canvas, Blackboard, and more.
API access is now more critical than ever since many schools try to keep things simple for their students but want to curate a virtual streaming classroom experience consistent with in-person learning.
4. Video Monetization
If you operate an online learning platform that is not publicly funded or tuition-based, you may consider monetizing your educational video content to generate revenue.
Many independent online educators create courses and packages of video content sold as-is. With monetized content, viewers simply enter their payment information directly in the video player window. After payment, viewers can access the video.
Monetization tools are fundamental for quickly and easily generating revenue from your educational videos. But, again, monetization is used more by independent educators as opposed to grade schools, universities, or even technical schools.
If you operate an accredited institution, video monetization should be okay with you since you are funded by taxpayers or tuition.
How to Create an Online Education Platform (With Examples)
Finalized your platform choice? Now it’s time to bring it all together.
Now that you know the top video platforms for education, let’s discuss how to create a platform to stream your videos using the leading online learning course platforms we’ve discussed.
1. Choose an Approach
There are various ways to create an online education platform. Let’s examine four popular approaches.
eLearning
With an eLearning platform, all your students are remote learners. Using a free online learning platform, you can offer free courses, require payment, or both using a free online learning platform. An example of an eLearning website that provides a mix of free and paid classes is Udacity. Not everyone who takes free online courses will upgrade to paid classes, but many do. Free courses allow those on the fence to get a feel of an instructor’s teaching style before investing.
Hybrid of in-person and online
Under that model, you’ll commonly host in-person educational events instead of exclusively selling courses online. However, you also add an online component to reach a larger audience or anyone who couldn’t make it. In university, for example, allowing remote students to enrol in classes while still appealing to local students.
An example of an institution that uses a hybrid approach is Gresham College. They allow you to register to watch various online courses and allow locals to attend these lectures in person.
Flipped classroom
Educators in K-12 or universities may choose this approach to maximize their students’ time in person. Under this approach, it’s common to stream lectures or post pre-recorded lectures for on-demand access. That way, in-person time is better spent answering questions, working in group projects or activities, and getting hands-on experience.
Training
Businesses commonly use the training approach for internal purposes, partners, or customer product training. More specifically, a company might use a live stream platform to teach salespeople how to sell a new product or service. In the same way, the business might set up a platform for current users to learn how to use the product or service better. Doing so helps your customers use your product and increases their chances of renewing or upgrading.
2. Create a Website
To have more control over your online live class platform, creating a website is a good idea. You can create a website name (domain name), register it with a web-hosting platform like GoDaddy or Bluehost, and then use WordPress to build and customize the website.
If you’re taking the eLearning route, remember that it’s a very competitive space, so you must choose a niche and figure out what makes you unique from all the other educators in the same category.
Once you’ve done this, display it clearly and repeatedly on your website. You can communicate it through your design, pictures, and text.
Make sure to add a detailed About Page. A good About Page can help people quickly figure out what your online video education platform is about. Besides the home page, it’s among the most popular for businesses or entrepreneurs. A great example of a detailed About Page is MorningCME, which provides live lectures and recorded training for those interested in Continuing Medical Education(CME).
Next, let’s cover how to create an online course setup.
3. Set Up Your Online Class
Organization is vital for an online course or class.
Here are some best practices:
- Organize by topics or channels: For example, if your business has four main products, create different channels for each. A website that has done that well is Outschool. Generally, the fewer hurdles you can give your learners, the more engaged they’ll be.
- Add a search function: Make it easy for students to find past, current, and future videos.
- Make registration pages for your students to RSVP: That can be either a monetary commitment or as simple as replying to an email. For example, Outschool limits its classes to a certain number of students. That’s why their registration page takes payments. On the other hand, Gresham College allows people to register and join live lectures with simply an email address.
- Put a detailed description of lectures under the video: Build up curiosity and interest by writing detailed descriptions about what the audience can expect from each live stream or on-demand video. Also, state the length of time so that students know what to expect beforehand.
4. Gather Equipment and Digital Tools
Having the proper setup will improve the whole live experience.
For a basic setup, you’ll need the following:
- Basic encoding software
- (optional) Simulcasting tool
- (optional) Mixing and production software
- Camera
- Laptop, computer, or smartphone
- Video learning platform
OBS Studio is a popular encoder for a basic setup. It’s also free. If you’re streaming with a phone or webcam, you can skip the encoding software and camera, but the stream quality will not be as high.
5. Choose an Online Video Teaching Platform
Choose from the top video-sharing platforms for education we’ve evaluated. Ensure the equipment and digital tools you choose are compatible with your online instruction platform.
Generally, online live class platforms make embedding videos on your website easy. It’s generally a matter of just copying a piece of code from your online learning platform and pasting it onto the HTML of your website. Check out our comprehensive guide if you need more help with this step.
6. Stream!
Now that you know how to make an online class, you can create online teaching videos and live stream lectures.
The Future of Education
While the current state of the world has created instability for many industries, online learning has proven valuable for helping students make it through these changing times.
Live streaming classes allow students to digest the materials, specifically if they are used to watching their teachers’ lectures in person. This teaching style provides significant advantages compared to simply uploading notes for students to read through on their own.
Even if online education is not the preferred option for all students, keeping students on track when schools are closed down is necessary, especially when it’s safer for them to learn from home. Consider implementing live streams, lectures available for playback, and other tools to provide greater access to education.
Conclusion
Online learning platforms provide education professionals the ability to provide course content no matter the circumstances. From prestigious universities to earning a master’s degree to learning for business teams, a solid platform with the essential features is needed. Fortunately, there are online learning platforms with advanced features to provide fantastic e-learning today.
Mslive is a professional-grade platform with a rich set of e-learning capabilities. Mslive’s platform enables live streaming and on-demand video hosting. The unified streaming solution includes Zoom live streaming integration for seamless, real-time classroom replication. It supports fast video uploading, advanced security, video-on-demand storage and much more.
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