These are definitely some strange times we are living in. Who would’ve thought a new virus would come and completely change the way we live? Well, maybe a couple of Hollywood writers, but in all fairness, no one saw it coming. Many countries are resorting to extreme containment measures meant to keep the economy going, while at the same time, assuring everyone’s safety, or so we hope. Many people are working from home and most schools are closed, presenting a shift in our daily routine and the overall status quo. But what if these changes are also opening our eyes to possibilities we might have neglected until now?
Many people are working from home and most schools are closed, presenting a shift in our daily routine and the overall status quo
Schools are struggling to meet their students’ needs. Most facilities are probably equipped with the technology to stream a class, but having various different streams, and all working at the same time, could present a problem in terms of bandwidth and of means available. What we are failing to see is that a live stream may not be the best way to teach a class, although it’s the easiest logical step to take.
Online classes are either taken voluntarily by the participants or because something is physically preventing the student from going to school. When a person chooses to enroll in an online class, it’s because their available time is limited or fluid in the very least. When someone is prevented from going to school, this also means their social dynamics are going to have a significant change on a personal level, and normal schedules might not apply.
Educational institutions should be prepared for these new realities and embrace Online Video Platforms as their go-to safety net, preparing classes in video format and having them available for students to watch, anywhere at any time.
By having these video classes available, institutions can make sure their students are able to attend them according to their own schedule and, unlike a live-streamed class, students can send their questions to their teachers without creating a mess of overlapping voices, receiving in return, not only their answers but also complimentary documents. On the other hand, teachers would have the added value of post-production in their classes, not having to rely just on PowerPoint slides, but also on video and audio to enhance the teaching experience.
Keep in mind, this isn’t easy and to make these videos, it would take a lot of work and some associated costs, not to mention having the platform itself. But we are not only talking about prevention in case of a catastrophe, just like the latest Covid-19 disaster, but we are also actually talking about the possibility of having this contingency plan become a new revenue stream.
Once an educational institution has an online video platform (OVP) available, it is not only ready to respond to the needs of those who cannot attend a normal schedule, but it is also opening up the possibility of expanding their its reach beyond regional or country borders, offering their skills to all those who can’t deal with a “normal” schedule. One very important fact we can’t stress enough, an OVP is also able to carry a live feed whenever it is necessary, we just don’t think a class would be the right situation for it, unlike a special event.
Yes, schools and educational institutions can host special events, like masterclasses, speeches or sports events, and these too can be monetized. If a person of interest is going to give a masterclass at a school, that school could not only charge those physically attending the event but also for online admissions to the live stream or its video access. There’s a whole world of possibilities that should be discussed amongst the educational community regarding video and its online distribution. In a globalized world, there are no boundaries.
Students can have access to the platform, have premium access to instructional videos, and other users can pay for case-by-case classes
At WeTek, we have been trying to integrate every single one of these options into our online video platform solution, and successfully so. WeCast, our in-house solution for content creators, satellite/cable operators, and ISPs, is a powerful and yet simple to manage tool that can be used by educational institutions, enhancing their power of reach and value. Students can have access to the platform, have premium access to instructional videos, and other users can pay for case-by-case classes, masterclasses, sports events, you name it. In times where creativity needs to be the solution for financial struggles, WeTek is more than ready to start up the engine and let you lift off.
