Online Education: instructions to hold videoconferences

COVID-19 crisis has speed-up the digitalization process of the society as well as professional and educational environments. At CEU University centres, the adaptation to online classes has been easier thanks to the early commitment to innovation. Therefore we have been able to nimbly and efficiently respond to our students from the start. This way we are #CerradosPeroAbiertos (Closedbutopen) because technology forms part of the basis of the innovative culture of CEU Universities.

In this process both teachers and students are handling strategies to make online education as efficient, close, motivating and participative as in-person lessons. Without doubt, an essential tool to achieve it is the videoconferences held daily in class. Also useful to maintain our bonds with our family and friends, we are sure that we will continue using them when we return to normal life.

Keys to make the most of videoconferences and virtual education

But, do we know how to manage ourselves in the new environments of virtual classes? University students are creating their own personal brand, an essential instrument for their professional future. Therefore, it is necessary to pay utmost attention to online identity. Bear in mind the following recommendations:

1. Revise what people see at your back: choose a good environment at home that will allow you to be comfortable and that allows the rest of the family to continue with their daily life. You can also use the ever more common “customized backgrounds” or the option of diffusing the background if the tool you use, has the option. Also, never place your computer or mobile against the light because you will look darker and the rest of the participants will not be able to see your gestures. The camera has to focus at the centre and show your face.
2. Dress and wash properly: be careful because the image we project through virtual means serves others to form an opinion about ourselves. Choose appropriate and neutral clothes that do not outstand.
3. Avoid people from your environment appearing in the screen: remember that it is your videoconference and that the image of people is an asset to be especially cared for. Therefore choose a space where you can be alone and if this is not possible, avoid passing areas or wide spaces.
4. Make comments and contributions with respect and always about the topic: in virtual spaces not everything is permitted. Be respectful with your contributions and offer the best of yourself as you would do in person.
5. Do not take pictures or videos during the call: remember that virtual classes have the same rules as in-person. Respect the privacy of your colleagues and professors and always use with an educational criteria the contents shared.
6. Keep the camera and microphone off: it is a basic rule for the management of virtual classes and you will only activate the service when you are asked by the teacher. Also, this way we improve the quality of the session as it uses less bandwidth.
7. Use headphones with microphone: they serve to focus the voice avoiding background noise and improve the quality of the sound when you talk. They even help you concentrate on what you are doing!
8. To join in, ask for your turn: being respectful when you participate is essential both in-person and virtually. Remember to request, contribute, respect speaking turns and use the channels your teacher tells you (voice or chat).

To sum up, when using videoconference tools we shall apply the same rules than in-person classes. The road we are travelling encourages in-person and virtual hybrid environments so it is in our hands that our behaviour in both spaces match our real personality.