Video Conferencing - Alternatives to Adobe Connect?

[virnuls]

I'm not sure whether this is the right group for this - if not, can someone suggest a better one?

 

 

 

We currently use Adobe Connect for distance learning, but we're no longer offered an education discount, which is making it rather expensive. Is anyone aware of an alternative that allows:

 

- the use of document sharing, whiteboard, etc.

- one-to-many contact (i.e. one teacher and many students, not just a one-to-one conversation like Skype)

- users to use any platform, including tablets/iPads, Chromebooks, Macs and Windows

- students to attend without needing to register for an account (we could be more flexible on this point)

- users to attend without the need to install anything (which isn't always possible in schools, libraries, etc.)

 

 

 

We'd also like something that we don't need to host ourselves (as we've got nowhere to put the server). I'm aware of Google Hangouts and will have another look at that, but was hoping for some other ideas.

 

 

We currently use Adobe Connect for distance learning, but we're no longer offered an education discount, which is making it rather expensive. Is anyone aware of an alternative that allows:

 

- the use of document sharing, whiteboard, etc.

- one-to-many contact (i.e. one teacher and many students, not just a one-to-one conversation like Skype)

- users to use any platform, including tablets/iPads, Chromebooks, Macs and Windows

- students to attend without needing to register for an account (we could be more flexible on this point)

- users to attend without the need to install anything (which isn't always possible in schools, libraries, etc.)

 

 

 

We'd also like something that we don't need to host ourselves (as we've got nowhere to put the server). I'm aware of Google Hangouts and will have another look at that, but was hoping for some other ideas.

 

 

We currently use Adobe Connect for distance learning, but we're no longer offered an education discount, which is making it rather expensive. Is anyone aware of an alternative that allows:

 

 

• the use of document sharing, whiteboards, etc.
  
• one-to-many contact (i.e. one teacher and many students, not just a one-to-one conversation like Skype)
  
• users to use any platform, including tablets/iPads, Chromebooks, Macs and Windows
  
• students to attend without needing to register for an account (we could be more flexible on this point)
  
• users to attend without the need to install anything (which isn't always possible in schools, libraries, etc.)
  

 

We'd also like something that we don't need to host ourselves (as we've got nowhere to put the server). I'm aware of Google Hangouts and will have another look at that, but was hoping for some other ideas.

[3s-gtech]

Citrix WebEx actually seems pretty good, when we've needed to join to it. Usually needs a plugin to work, which is only installed once. Don't know how pricing compares.

[SamanthaD]

GoToMeeting?

[Sylv3r]

Skype for Business should allow all that and free through Office365.

[timbo343]

+1 for trying skype for business too. We use it in our meetings and works well.

[SamanthaD]

Doesn't Skype for Business need an app to be downloaded?

[3s-gtech]

Yup, it doesn't meet his requirements which is why I didn't recommend it. It's great, but not what was asked for.

[virnuls]

Yup, it doesn't meet his requirements which is why I didn't recommend it. It's great, but not what was asked for.

 

Thanks for all of the suggestions - I'll check them out. We have access to Office 365, so I'll look into Skype - most students use their own equipment so the app installation requirement is the least strict (I can possibly convince the library IT people to install it as they opened ports for Connect).

[Sylv3r]

There's also a web version for Skype For Business, which although would still require a plugin, it's a lot smaller and easier to rollout then the full blown skype client.

[BenQ_Support]

I've been quite impressed with Zoom when I've used it. Might be worth a look.

[john_robinson001]

I'm looking at the exact same thing at the moment. We use Adobe Connect, but we are having terrible trouble with the browser plugin since the last Chrome update.

 

Skype would be ideal, although licensing them through Office 365 would give them the ability to video call other students with no ability to control it (if I'm wrong and there is some way to manage that, let me know!). Instead we've been looking at setting up Skype meeting and sending them the link to be able to join it, so they don't need an account. The sticking point is the plugin, as it wants to download and install it every single time, regardless of whether it's been installed before. We issue the laptops to the students and lock them down, so the plugin won't install. It's the only sticking point in what I think would be a good solution.

 

An extension of that would be Microsoft Teams, which Microsoft have recently announced will replace Skype for Business, and introduce a lot more features.