The Impact VoIP Technology On The eLearning Industry

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology is disrupting the eLearning landscape. By allowing more people to connect in a meaningful way online, students from all over the world, who are participating in all different types of classes, can benefit from greater connectivity and access. VoIP systems make eLearning simpler and give opportunities for great collaboration between all parties involved.

eLearning has transformed over the years and has spread across new platforms to reach larger audiences. Here are 5 ways that VoIP service has revolutionized eLearning:

1. Peer-Assisted Learning



Entry-level classes in difficult higher education courses have increasingly started using peer-assisted learning with VoIP tech to increase success rates for students. In entry-level classes, there tend to be a large number of students when compared to the teachers and teacher’s assistants. Students can instead connect with one another through VoIP platforms to help each other with classwork.

This strategy is seen in on-site, online, and hybrid classes alike. Particularly in eLearning situations, with either hybrid classes or fully online classes, peer-assisted learning allows students to successfully work together in a class where individual instructor attention is impossible. Students can connect with each other via direct video or audio chats and conference calls for group discussions. Overall, this tends to improve student pass rates and performance in entry-level classes.

Peer-assisted learning isn’t as common in higher-level classes. As class sizes get smaller in the more specialized, difficult classes, instructors take over the role of assisting learners. In online or hybrid classes, many instructors still use VoIP tech to connect with students and give them specific attention outside of the class environment.

In some cases, peer-assisted learning pops up in the form of higher-level students tutoring students in lower-level classes. This is a popular method of providing higher-level students with teaching or volunteering/work opportunities while giving lower-level students the attention they need. VoIP has made this incredibly easy for students.

2. Gamification of eLearning

eLearning platforms tend to have a retention problem because many students lack the determination to follow-through with self-learning. Many eLearning platforms have begun to gamify their services in an attempt to keep people interested for longer and help them to continue their learning journey. Research has shown this is effective.

Gamification is the addition of competitive features, rewards, and similar extras to inspire people to keep using a service. Even on eLearning platforms that use VoIP, such as online tutoring or language learning services, gamification is used to give people incentives to keep using the service. Gamification makes the learning experience more fun and provides a reward motivation for the learners, which keeps them returning and progressing.

3. Language Learning

VoIP has been instrumental in improving language eLearning opportunities. Languages are difficult to teach and to learn online, but the process is worse when only video or audio recordings are available for students. The challenge with language learning is that students often progress at vastly different rates and they need individual attention.

With VoIP, online language students can receive one-on-one or small group sessions that allow them to learn and practice at their skill level. Many tutoring programs connect students with native speakers of the language being learned in order to allow the students to practice. Since the technology helps connect amateur teachers or tutors to students, the fees for private sessions are lower than ever before.

Language learning platforms that solely revolve around VoIP teaching and tutoring are common. There are services that connect students with amateur teachers for low fees or professional language teachers with higher or varied fees. Students may be anywhere around the world and at any skill level, and teachers can teach from wherever as long as they have the right equipment. This opens up a lot of opportunities for students and teachers to participate more frequently.

Universities and colleges also take advantage of VoIP for language learning. Teachers can bring in native speakers online for students to experience another accent or speaking style, or teachers from other locations can be tasked with teaching through an online platform. Universities aren’t restricted to local teachers for online language classes since VoIP enables them to recruit qualified professionals from around the world.

4. MOOCs

With the emergence of VoIP tech, new online class formats have popped up. Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) are an example of this. These are courses from higher learning institutions that are freely available to the general public. All course content and teaching are done online. If a certificate of participation or another certificate is needed, the participant may pay a small fee.

Many MOOCs include online sessions between teachers and students or between the students themselves, while others may be focused more on recorded video classes. With VoIP, MOOCs that incorporate online voice or video interactions have become more common. Students can connect with one another to do projects, hold discussions, and ask questions, no matter where they are.

MOOCs are a more recent development that’s still growing. Because they’re generally free or extremely low cost, there isn’t always a wide variety of options from all higher learning institutions. But, the fact that many well-known universities and colleges are offering MOOCs, some with VoIP participation tied in, bodes well for the future of the learning medium. Typically, MOOCs are offered for courses that would benefit someone even without them receiving a degree or certificate.

5. Variety Of Courses

The easy accessibility of video and audio VoIP services makes it simple for people in all industries to teach classes to students anywhere. Courses have become a core offering for many businesses, like The Ecommerce Academy (T.E.A.), who plan to monetize their audience through an eCommerce business course. Indeed, chefs, comedians, writers, doctors, and any number of other professionals can all start VoIP-powered courses with personalized, individual teaching sessions or video classes with personalized time with each student.

VoIP software has empowered students and teachers around the world and opened up eLearning opportunities for a wider variety of people.