Save Time and Money by Training Your Employees and Reaching Out to Prospects from a Virtual Classroom April 27, 2010 @ 09:52 AM | By Nicole Scheel

Lots of opportunities exist for small to medium size businesses to use classroom video conferencing technology to train employees, reach out to prospects, and even generate solid sales leads. But which ones to choose? Let's peek inside a virtual classroom and have a look at the different types of learning environments available.

Virtual Classroom

A virtual classroom uses video conferencing technology to place the teacher at the front of a “room,”—that is, in front of his webcam. The seminar is then transmitted to students in various locations. The students may be gathered together in another room, or may all be studying from the comfort of their homes or office desks. Alternately, the teacher may be instructing students at a near site, while other students on the far site learn simultaneously.

Web-based Video Conferencing

Typically more interactive than a virtual classroom, web-based video conferencing takes advantage of services from companies like InterCall to create easy-to-use, relatively inexpensive (compared to thousands of dollars in video conferencing hardware and software) audio and video conferences over the Internet.

Mobile-based Learning

With services from InterCall, students and trainees can take audio and video conferencing with them on the road, for the pinnacle of mobile-based learning. A web conference sent straight to a prospect's smartphone, recorded and archived to be viewed at his convenience, is a great way to reach out to potential clients.

E-Learning

E-learning could accurately be described as comprising any and all the above technology. Typically, however, it involves the distribution of course materials, including eBooks, and then focuses on education in a digital environment, through chat programs, forums, and web-based testing. E-learning can be used to market a company's products or services, or can, in fact, be sold as a service.

Whatever your virtual classroom video conferencing needs, the specialists at InterCall can set you up with the program that is right for you.

  

Nicole Scheel is the Director of Training, and the “Tips & Training Blogger”. Nicole has been in training with InterCall for eleven years and currently manages our internal and customer training departments, also known as InterCall University. Nicole has her Masters in Training & Development from Roosevelt University. When she's not training someone, you can find Nicole volunteering in her community.