What Is a Virtual Classroom? Features, Examples and How to Choose

A virtual classroom is a live online space where a teacher and students meet at the same time to see, hear and work with each other. Good virtual classroom software puts video, a shared whiteboard, chat, file sharing and class controls in one browser window, so a lesson can run much like it does in a real room.

The word gets used loosely. Some people mean any video call with students, others mean a full course website. This guide explains what a virtual classroom actually is, which features matter for teaching, how a live class runs in one, and how to pick a platform that fits the way you teach.

What is a virtual classroom, exactly?

A virtual classroom is a place for synchronous teaching: everyone is present at the same time, and the lesson happens live. The teacher explains, students ask questions, and both sides work on the same material while the class is running.

That is the key difference from a self-paced online course, where students watch videos and do tasks on their own schedule. A virtual classroom is the online version of the lesson itself, not the folder of materials around it. It suits tutoring, small group classes, school lessons taught remotely, revision sessions and live training.

What features does virtual classroom software need?

Virtual classroom software needs a shared space to teach on, a way for students to take part, and tools for what happens before and after the lesson. Video alone is not enough. Use this table as a checklist:

Educastic's whiteboard covers each row of this table. It runs in the browser, so students join from a link with nothing to install, on a laptop, tablet or touch screen.

How does a virtual classroom work during a live class?

A live class in a virtual classroom follows the same rhythm as a class in a room, with a few online steps added at the start and end. Here is how a typical lesson runs in Educastic:

1. Schedule the session. Set the date, time and duration, add students or guests, and share the invite link. Google Calendar sync can add the class to your calendar. Our guide on how to schedule an online class covers the details.
2. Prepare the board. Upload the worksheet or slides as a PDF (Word and other documents convert to PDF on upload), pick a background such as a grid or ruled lines, and open a tab for each part of the lesson.
3. Let students in. Guests arrive in a waiting room, and you admit them when you are ready to start.
4. Teach on the board. Explain while you write, annotate the PDF live and use the laser pointer to show where to look. Webcam video and chat run alongside the board.
5. Hand over the pen. Give one student whiteboard tools access to solve a problem while the others watch, then take it back.
6. Check understanding. Publish a short in-class test; students answer against a countdown and you see a summary of the answers straight away.
7. Record and wrap up. Record the session so students can rewatch it later from the My Recordings tab of My Library.
8. Follow up. Open the attendance report to see who joined and for how long, and send the session report by email if you use it.

With guests in class: people who join without an account don't see blank new tabs, only tabs opened from an uploaded file. Open guest activities from a file, or keep them on the Home tab.

If you are new to teaching on a board, start with how to teach online with a whiteboard.

Virtual classroom vs LMS vs video call: what is the difference?

A virtual classroom is for teaching live, an LMS (learning management system) is for organizing self-paced courses, and a video call is for talking face to face. They overlap, but each does a different main job:

Many teachers use more than one. A common pattern is a self-paced course for content students can read alone, plus a weekly live session for practice and questions. Educastic has a course builder for the self-paced part, so both can live in one account.

When is a virtual classroom the right choice?

A virtual classroom is the right choice when students need to practice with you watching, ask questions as they go, or see a process built step by step. Math, languages, science and exam revision all benefit from that.

It is not always the best fit. Pure reference content, such as a policy explainer or a recorded lecture students will rewatch, often works better as a self-paced lesson. Save live time for the parts that need a teacher in the room.

How do you choose a virtual classroom platform?

Choose a virtual classroom platform by testing it with a real lesson, not by reading a feature list. Run one short class with a colleague and check these points:

• Joining: students can join from a browser link without installing an app.
• Board quality: writing feels natural with a mouse, tablet or stylus, and the board stays readable on a small screen.
• Control: you decide, per student, who can draw, load files or change tabs.
• Your files: PDFs and documents open on the board and you can write on them.
• After class: recordings, attendance and reports are there without extra tools.
• Class size: it handles the number of students you teach. Educastic has been tested with up to 49 attendees in one session.
• Language: the interface works in your students' language. Educastic's interface is available in English and Spanish.

Frequently asked questions

Try a virtual classroom with your next lesson

Open the Educastic online whiteboard, upload one worksheet and run a short live class with a student or colleague. You will know within 20 minutes whether it fits the way you teach.

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