Top Live Teaching Platforms: Features and Capabilities Compared

Online learning was around long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but became increasingly common during the lockdowns as educational institutions struggled to help learners keep up with their education. It remained popular even after in-person learning resumed, with experts predicting that the online learning market will grow by over 20% up until the year 2030.

At the same time, problems emerged that made it clear that not all online learning models offered a quality education. The online course completion rate is lower than the in-person course completion rate. There has been a 30% increase in failed grades since e-learning became widespread. Experts found that real-time discussions during livestream instruction improved completion rates, and schools saw the value of interactive learning. Thus, online education leaders began offering live classes rather than pre-recorded video classes to ensure students gain the benefits of in-person learning even if a live teacher cannot be present in the classroom. This was the start of the synchronous education industry.

Synchronous learning involves live online classes that include frequent interactions between students and their teacher. They also include interactive online learning tools such as:

• Interactive whiteboards
• Breakout rooms
• Chat rooms
• Screen-sharing capabilities

Students taking synchronous learning courses attend school, just as they normally would. However, students communicate virtually instead of interacting with a teacher in person. A teacher's aide or assistant is present in the classroom to monitor learner behavior and provide tech assistance as needed. Many synchronous learning platforms will record the class while it's in progress so students can review the material at home and learners who weren't able to come to school that day can view the class and keep up with course work.

How to Pick the Best Live Teaching Platform

Not all e-learning companies offer live classes, but many do. This comparison will focus on some of the best known live teaching platforms so you can see similarities and key differences between:

• Proximity Learning
• Elevate K-12
• Fullmind
• Outschool

Services

Proximity Learning, Elevate K-12, and Fullmind offer a full online learning environment that includes K-12 classes, summer classes, and special education classes and case management. Elevate K-12 and Fullmind also offer support for ELL Learners. Proximity Learning and Fullmind offer tutoring. Fullmind and Proximity offer homebound class services, test prep services, and suspension alternatives. All three online learning platforms offer classes on the school bell schedule and provide flexible service to meet your district's needs.

Outschool differs from the online learning platforms outlined above because it's not an e-learning platform that connects directly with your school district. Rather, it's an online learning platform where freelance teachers can offer classes on core subjects, tutoring, elective classes, and more. It can act as an online English learning platform if your ELL students need help in this field; alternatively, it can be an ideal place to find advanced classes, after-school clubs, or classes that can be incorporated into a special education student's IEP plan. Many of its classes are livestreamed, but some aren't. One-on-one tutoring is flexible, but group classes are offered at the time set by the teacher.

Classes

Proximity Learning

Proximity Learning offers core classes for all scholastic levels. English Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies courses are available to students from Kindergarten to high school. The online learning platform offers world language courses for those who want to learn Spanish, Chinese, German, French, American Sign Language, and Latin. There are elective courses in health and PE, theater, drawing and painting, art, speech, and psychology, and the company also offers ACT prep classes and AP classes. Furthermore, Proximity Learning partners with Edynamic and Accelerate to give schools access to additional CTE courses, college and career pathways, and AP classes.

Elevate K-12

Elevate K-12 doesn't offer core classes for K-2 learners. However, it does provide core classes from Grade 3 to High School. It offers electives for middle and high school students, but most of these focus on either computer science or personal finance. World Language classes available on the online learning platform include Spanish, German, French, and ASL. There are SAT and ACT prep classes but no AP classes.

Fullmind

Fullmind advertises that it offers core classes for K-12 students along with various electives, ELL classes, and more. However, the company website doesn't list provided classes. District administrators interested in partnering with Fullmind would have to contact the company directly to learn more about its class offerings.

Outschool

The Outschool online teaching platform offers perhaps the largest selection of classes. There are ongoing classes in core subjects from pre-K to high school. There are world language classes in popular languages such as Spanish, German, French, and ASL, along with uncommon language options such as Arabic, Korean, and Japanese. There are ACT and SAT prep classes as well as AP classes. There are elective classes covering just about every single field.

Experience

Proximity Learning

Proximity Learning is an industry pioneer. It was founded in 2009 and only hires certified teachers to teach online classes.

Elevate K-12

Elevate K-12 was founded in 2015. Like Proximity Learning, it only hires certified teachers for online teaching jobs.

Fullmind

Fullmind was founded in 2014 to teach online classes to homebound students. Between 2015 and 2019, it added to this service, offering credit recovery classes, test prep classes, tutoring, and a resource room. The company only entered the virtual learning industry in 2020. All teachers are certified and experienced in their fields, and Fullmind picks teachers for each school district with care to ensure instructors are the best possible match for their learning environment.

Outschool

Outschool teachers are freelancers who have taken on online teaching jobs to either supplement a primary job or because they are looking for an alternative to teaching in a public or private school. Some teachers are experts in their fields; they have a graduate degree and many years of experience. Others have a bachelor's degree and only some experience. However, all are passionate about their fields of expertise, and with a bit of searching it's not hard to find an online teacher to suit a specific need.

Why Work with Proximity Learning?

Synchronous learning is the foundation of any successful online education set-up. However, you need more than livestream classes to ensure students get a quality education. Teachers should be certified, use interactive tools to keep student attention and improve knowledge retention rates, and have a quality curriculum. Classes should be on your school's bell schedule and meet district requirements. Video quality should be high and the remote learning platform should be easy for students to understand and use.

Proximity Learning has more experience in the online teaching field than other e-learning platforms. It has a quality set-up, certified teachers, multiple course options, and the services and tools you need to ensure learners make consistent progress. Contact us to find out more about our services or to start the onboarding process for your district.

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