Online Classroom Software for Education: How Schools, Universities & EdTech Teams Can Teach at Scale

Summary

Webinar tools play a vital role in online education and let instructors deliver interactive, adaptable lessons from any location. Educational institutions have utilized online classroom software more effectively than most businesses.

Teaching students at scale requires more than simple video conferencing, whether it’s for university courses or corporate training. Virtual classroom platforms excel beyond video calls and provide structured environments for live teaching, collaboration, and assessment. These online live class platforms help reach remote learners who can’t attend physical sessions.

Let’s explore how schools, universities, and EdTech teams can utilize virtual classroom software to create engaging learning experiences. You’ll find everything about teaching effectively at scale, from key features to the best platform choices.

Table of Contents

1. What is Virtual Classroom Software?
2. Essential Features for Teaching at Scale
3. Top 8 Virtual Classroom Platforms for 2025
4. How to Set Up and Customize Your Virtual Classroom
5. Tips to Boost Student Engagement in Online Classes
6. Conclusion
7. FAQs

What is Virtual Classroom Software?

Virtual learning environments have changed how students worldwide receive educational content. You can select the right solution for your teaching needs by understanding the technology behind these platforms.

Definition and core purpose

Online classroom software creates a well-laid-out digital environment built to aid teaching and learning over the internet. These platforms are different from simple communication tools. They create complete virtual spaces where teachers and students can interact in real-time. This setup mirrors many aspects of physical classrooms while adding digital benefits.

Virtual classroom software works as a continuous learning space that’s available with just a click, whatever your physical location. The main goal goes beyond sharing information. These platforms want to promote engagement, collaboration, and meaningful learning outcomes.

A true virtual classroom is more than just a video call with educational content. It’s a purpose-built system with features that help learning and collaboration. These environments support real-time instruction and provide tools for self-paced learning.

The market for this technology continues to grow faster. Virtual classroom technology reached USD 16.68 billion in 2023. Projections show growth to USD 19.19 billion in 2024. These numbers show how important these specialized educational tools have become.

How is virtual classroom software different from video conferencing tools

Virtual classroom solutions offer more specialized features than video conferencing platforms. The main difference lies in their purpose. Video conferencing tools serve corporate and consumer needs, like business meetings or family connections. Virtual classrooms focus specifically on education.

Here are the critical differences:

• Communication structure: Video conferencing uses a one-to-many broadcasting model. Virtual classrooms support dynamic, multi-directional communication that works better for learning.
• User roles and engagement: Traditional conferencing leads to passive attendance. Virtual classroom platforms redefine user roles through various interactive tools that encourage active participation.
• Educational compliance: Virtual classrooms meet educational regulations like Regular and Substantive Interaction (RSI) requirements. Standard video conferencing tools can’t meet these standards.
• Classroom management: Teachers need special tools in virtual environments. Focus tracking, participation analytics, and more moderator & engagement tools to help them manage online classes better than general conferencing applications.

Virtual classroom software also tracks student engagement, provides detailed assessment data, and supports diverse learning needs through accessibility options. These features make them much more effective for education than general video conferencing platforms.

Essential Features for Teaching at Scale

Teaching online at scale needs specialized tools that do more than simple video conferencing. The right features help you create engaging virtual classes and maintain quality education for large groups of students.

Live class software with real-time interaction

The success of online education depends on how well students participate actively. Quality live class software creates an environment where students feel connected even when they’re far apart. Real-time interaction tools encourage this connection through:

• Interactive polls and quizzes that test understanding and boost participation
• Live chat messaging that helps students work together and talk with instructors
• Digital hand-raising features that give everyone a fair chance to speak
• Emoji reactions that let students give quick feedback without interrupting

These elements turn passive students into active participants. Teachers can adjust their pace based on immediate feedback and spark discussions that deepen understanding. 

EasyWebinar stands out with its real-time interaction features and offers detailed engagement tools well-suited for teaching. Try EasyWebinar free today to see how these features can transform your teaching.

Breakout rooms and collaboration tools

Small group spaces in virtual classrooms let students practice concepts, build skills, and dive deeper into the material. These breakout rooms boost learning in several ways.

Students get more chances to participate and collaborate with their peers, which helps them remember concepts better. Small groups also build community and support, which can make students feel more connected.

Student groups work best when you give clear roles like facilitator, note-taker, and presenter. This helps especially when students haven’t worked together before. Research shows groups of three work best for many problem-solving tasks.

Collaboration tools like shared whiteboards, document editors, and annotation features let students work together no matter where they are. These tools make brainstorming, concept mapping, and group projects possible in virtual settings.

Engagement tracking and analytics

Online learning can tell you more about student engagement than in-person classes. Detailed analytics help spot struggling students and personalize teaching based on what each student needs.

Learning analytics looks at data created when students interact with educational content. You can then use this data to analyze where your students are lagging (course completion, concept grasping, etc.) 

Good platforms track:

• Speaking time to ensure equal participation
• Attendance and activity levels
• Questions and hand-raising frequency
• How students do in polls and quizzes
• Chat activity

These metrics help teachers spot disengaged students and improve their teaching methods.

Security and compliance for schools and universities

Schools must put data privacy and security first when choosing online classroom software. FERPA rules control how student information gets shared, making compliance vital.

FERPA’s school official exception lets schools share student information with service providers who do the same work schools would normally use employees for, show legitimate educational interest, stay under direct control for data use, and only use information for approved purposes.

Look for platforms that offer:

• Encryption and strong identity checks
• Controls like waiting rooms and participant verification
• FERPA compliance documents
• EU hosting for international programs
• Data privacy controls and consent management

While FERPA doesn’t spell out specific security standards, good practices include encrypted file transfers and multi-factor authentication. Therefore, checking a platform’s security features before using it protects your institution.

Your legal team should review the terms of service, understand data handling, and make sure the platform won’t use student information for marketing or other unauthorized purposes.

EasyWebinar is SOC II Type 2 & GDPR compliant for unparalleled security and data privacy. 

Top 8 Virtual Classroom Platforms for 2025

The right platform choice creates the foundation for successful online education. These virtual classroom solutions will help you deliver quality education at scale in 2025.

1. EasyWebinar – Best for flexible live teaching

EasyWebinar combines live and automated webinar capabilities in one seamless platform. The platform’s built-in landing page creation and email automation eliminate the requirement for extra tools. Teachers who want an all-in-one solution will find it perfect. The Live Engine delivers crystal-clear HD quality and eliminates delays and buffering that disrupt learning.

Key strengths: TrueVoice technology cuts background noise for distraction-free learning. White labelling options for your institution’s branding. Live analytics let you track engagement like polls, chat interactions, and replay views. These insights help you adjust your teaching strategies based on student behavior.

Ready to change your online teaching experience? Try EasyWebinar free today and see how it helps you grow your educational offerings without losing quality & engagement.

2. Zoom – Reliable and familiar

Zoom has become the go-to platform for virtual meetings and classes. This AI-first communication and collaboration platform makes shared learning possible in new ways. Teachers new to online teaching value its reliability and simple interface.

Notable features: Students can learn in small groups through breakout rooms. They can give nonverbal feedback with raised hands and yes/no indicators. Quick comprehension checks happen through polls. The in-meeting chat supports different communication styles. Zoom’s virtual backgrounds help students protect their privacy during class.

3. BigMarker – Great for large-scale events

BigMarker shines at handling large virtual conferences and educational events. The platform gives you everything you need to design, build, and create effective experiences. Students can join from any device since the web-based platform needs no downloads.

Standout capabilities: You get complete control over the audience experience with custom layouts and interactive features. The platform works fast worldwide on any browser or device. This makes it perfect for international educational programs reaching thousands of students at once.

4. Adobe Connect – Customizable and secure

Adobe Connect lets educators create virtual classrooms that match their teaching style. Students can access the platform from any device with a web browser using the HTTPS protocol.

Unique advantages: Virtual rooms keep all settings, branding, files, and activities between sessions. This removes repetitive setup. Teachers can define windows for different functions through the “pods” system. These functions include video playback, camera feeds, and chat rooms. You can save these layouts as templates and switch between them with one click.

5. LearnCube – Ideal for tutoring and 1:1 sessions

LearnCube’s virtual classroom works well for tutoring and small group instruction. The platform is professional, reliable, and simple to use. More than 50,000 tutors have used it to deliver over 5 million online classes.

Core features: The platform has an interactive online whiteboard for collaboration and browser-based audio/video without downloads. You get white-label options for branding, multi-media content access, and session recording. LearnCube keeps things simple, which helps teachers who don’t want to train students on complex software.

6. Kaltura – AI-powered and flexible

Kaltura’s virtual classroom creates AI-powered events and customized learning that boost engagement. The platform maintains settings between sessions in continuous virtual spaces.

Key innovations: The AI-powered Class Genie creates educational resources like video snippets, flashcards, quizzes, and knowledge tests. Students can use group chat, moderated Q&A, collaborative whiteboards, polls, and quizzes. Teachers can review sessions and students’ performance through focus tracking.

7. Google Classroom – Simple and accessible to more people

Google Classroom remains important as schools choose it for its user-friendly interface and Google Workspace integration. The platform delivers quality learning while making assignment creation, distribution, and grading easier and more efficient.

Practical benefits: Teachers can create interactive practice sets, run classes with Google Meet, present easily, and keep students engaged in breakout rooms. Students and teachers already know how to comment, edit, share, and translate with Google’s tools.

These platforms represent your best options for growing online teaching in 2025. Each platform has it’s own unique strengths that suit different educational needs and settings.

How to Set Up and Customize Your Virtual Classroom

A functional virtual classroom needs careful organization and attention to detail. Even the best online classroom software requires proper setup to work well.

Naming conventions and branding

Your virtual classroom elements need consistent naming patterns. Students who take courses from multiple departments or regions benefit from formats like “Department_Region_Level” (e.g., “HR_R6_BASIC” for Human Resources in Region 6). This system helps students locate their rooms and resources quickly.

A strong visual identity builds trust immediately. Your logo, color palette, and visual themes should be consistently applied throughout your virtual classroom. EasyWebinar lets you apply these branding elements across your classroom through white-labelling to create a professional experience.

Using templates and reusable content

Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs) help you save time and resources. These modular components—like quiz formats, visual layouts, and interactive elements—work well across multiple courses.

RLOs work best when you:

• Create modular content that fits various curriculum needs
• Size components appropriately (e.g., 6-minute video segments instead of one 60-minute video)
• Design neutral content without specific cultural references
• Use content management systems to organize your component inventory

Testing tools before going live

Your classroom elements need a complete test before the first session. Audio, video, connectivity, and interactive features should work perfectly. A colleague can join as a “student” to help find live running problems before real classes start.

Recording and sharing sessions

Recorded virtual classes help absent students catch up and provide study materials for review. Most platforms give you recording options—either directly to your device or through cloud storage.

To summarize, a well-configured virtual classroom software creates a strong foundation for online teaching. Good naming conventions, reusable templates, full testing, and smart recording practices prepare you to teach at any scale.

Tips to Boost Student Engagement in Online Classes

Student engagement plays a vital role in creating effective online learning experiences. These proven strategies will help keep your learners active and interested in virtual environments.

Use polls, quizzes, and emoji reactions

Quick feedback tools turn passive watching into active participation. Research shows that 85% of instructors notice better student participation after they start using polling tools. Their teaching becomes 80% more effective with these interactive elements.

EasyWebinar comes with built-in polling features that help you quickly check understanding and maintain high attention levels throughout your session.

Students can express themselves through emoji reactions without disrupting the lesson flow. These visual signals create an ongoing feedback loop between teachers and students during presentations.

Encourage student presentations

Students develop public speaking skills and a deeper understanding of material through leading content sessions. You can offer various presentation formats—synchronous, recorded videos, digital posters, or infographics—that match different learning priorities.

Students should submit project plans with communication strategies, role assignments, and success criteria before group presentations. Teachers can assess both individual work and final results to keep everyone accountable.

Utilize whiteboards and multimedia

Interactive whiteboards turn basic lessons into shared learning experiences. Teachers can watch student work in real-time on these digital canvases and provide personalized feedback.

Different multimedia elements help address various learning styles. Students grasp complex concepts better and remember information longer through visual representations.

Track participation and follow up

Modern digital tools make it easy to monitor student engagement—a task that used to be time-consuming.

This data helps teachers spot students who need extra support. Some systems feature “cold-call” options that randomly pick participants to encourage wider class involvement.

Conclusion

Online classroom software has revolutionized education. Schools, universities, and EdTech teams can now deliver high-quality learning experiences, whatever their physical location. These specialized platforms offer much more than simple video conferencing tools. They come with purpose-built features designed for teaching and learning at scale.

Virtual classroom environments will, without doubt, shape education’s future. Your specific educational goals should drive the platform selection process. The market now offers solutions that match your needs – from detailed analytics tracking student engagement to interactive tools encouraging collaboration and robust security features protecting sensitive information.

The right setup and customization of your chosen platform create a strong base for successful online teaching. A professional learning space that supports both instructors and students emerges when you use consistent naming conventions, reuse content, and really test your virtual environment before class launch.

Student engagement is the lifeblood of effective learning, especially in virtual settings. So tools like polls, quizzes, whiteboards, and emoji reactions turn passive viewing into active participation. These interactive elements keep students focused while giving valuable feedback about their understanding.

Quality and connection don’t need to suffer when teaching at scale. The right virtual classroom software can boost educational experiences through features that traditional settings can’t match – instant analytics, global collaboration, and individual-specific experiences.

Note that switching to online teaching means more than just using new technology – it reimagines education for a connected world. When you thoughtfully apply these strategies and platforms, you’ll create exceptional learning experiences at any scale.

FAQs

Q1. What are the key differences between virtual classroom software and standard video conferencing tools? 

Virtual classroom software is specifically designed for education, offering features like interactive whiteboards, breakout rooms, and engagement tracking. Unlike video conferencing tools, these platforms support dynamic, multi-directional communication and provide specialized tools for classroom management and educational compliance.

Q2. How can educators boost student engagement in online classes? 

Educators can increase engagement by using interactive tools like polls and quizzes, encouraging student presentations, leveraging digital whiteboards and multimedia content, and tracking participation to identify and support disengaged students. Emoji reactions and chat features also provide low-barrier ways for students to participate actively.

Q3. What essential features should schools look for in online classroom software? 

Key features include live class software with real-time interaction capabilities, breakout rooms for small group work, engagement tracking and analytics, and robust security measures to ensure compliance with educational privacy regulations. The ability to customize and brand the virtual environment is also valuable.

Q4. How does EasyWebinar stand out among virtual classroom platforms? 

EasyWebinar excels in scalable live teaching, offering features like TrueVoice technology for noise reduction, advanced analytics for tracking engagement, and an all-in-one platform that includes landing page creation and email automation. Its Live Engine delivers high-quality video without delays or buffering.

Q5. What steps should be taken to set up an effective virtual classroom? 

To set up an effective virtual classroom, establish consistent naming conventions, apply branding elements, create reusable learning objects, thoroughly test all tools before going live, and plan for recording and sharing sessions. It’s also important to choose software that aligns with your specific educational goals and student needs.