The COVID-19 pandemic was a game-changer for education. Online learning became the new reality. It still is a reality for many students, even a year and a half later into the pandemic.
Consequently, online education and the use of online education technology have never been more critical. Furthermore, there is a consensus that education wouldn’t be possible without the current remote desktop software solutions. There is also a consensus that online schooling will play a massive role in formal and informal teaching.
This article will elaborate on the role of remote desktops for schools and how it enables school education in a concise and understandable way for everyone.
Remote Learning Tools in Online Education
When the world hit the pandemic, educators needed (free) access to online schooling tools right away. According to official statistics, almost 93% of all students in the US attended online classes, whereas, in the UK, the percentage of students learning online was around 87%.
Both teachers and students suddenly needed remote education solutions that offer easy and secure access to virtual classrooms, as well as a way to share learning materials.
As expected, tech giants such as Microsoft and Google were at the forefront of online schooling, and in many ways, they still are with their software solutions. Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom together hold a massive market share in the world of remote education.
With the help of online access solutions such as cheap RDP plans, teachers could easily access their students’ PCs and help them out with their school tasks.
Here’s a fast swipe of what they offer to virtual classrooms.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft created this free-to-use internet learning tool for students and educators. It is a digital hub that enables educators to create a learning community that can bring together assignments, online classes, conversations, and other apps under one umbrella.
Microsoft Teams defined remote learning and set new standards in this rapidly growing industry.
Google Classroom
Google Classroom also proved one of the simplest yet most effective remote software solutions for online teaching. Thanks to its many apps and tools, its users can easily exchange files, get feedback, assign tasks, grade tests, and so on. Moreover, its mobile-friendly made it even more popular among students and educators alike.
Using Remote Desktop Software in Online Learning
Soon after accepting virtual classrooms and the solutions that enable them, it became evident that educators needed something more. To be more precise, educators need a glimpse into their student’s computers. They required that insight to see if they were fooling around or genuinely listening to their classes. The educators also wanted to help them out.
Microsoft’s Remote Desktop apps proved to be a great remote access solution because of their top features.
Easily Configure a Remote Access Connection
It takes a little time, and it is super easy to configure a connection via Microsoft’s remote access app. This came very convenient for educators that needed to make this work for their many students. Both students and teachers find the configuration process relatively easy and don’t require learning new skills, at least when it comes to this.
Connect via any Device
Educators can connect to their student’s computers via their smartphones, school tablets, or PC. Again, the process was relatively easy, and there was no need for some extensive technical knowledge. Even iOS users can connect to a Microsoft computer with the help of the iOS app found in the Mac App Store.
Connect at any Time of the Day
Thanks to this technology, educators can access their student PCs at different times, not just during classes. In some schools, even students can use thеse systems to remotely access the school’s PC units and draw information from there. Again, it didn’t matter the time of day or the day of the week.
Secure Communication and Data
Another prerequisite of learning online was security. Fortunately, data security is at the center of almost all systems designed by Microsoft. In that regard, both communication and information transfer is perfectly secure.
How to Choose the Best Remote Access Solution?
Choosing the most optimal solution bothered some educators and school administrators when it came to distant learning and remote desktop software. One example was choosing between using Remote Desktop and the Remote App.
Microsoft is the common nominator for both solutions. Microsoft provides great support and assistance. Furthermore, it is very helpful for remotely learning as one doesn’t need to acquire new skills to master it. Anyone can manage it (students included), and one can use it via more than one device.
The remote desktop protocol is more than sufficient for most educators. However, some professors in the higher classes, especially in colleges, also need to use more advanced solutions such as the already mentioned Remote Desktops and the Remote App.
These desktops can bring forth a full solution in which the teacher gets to control everything from application installing to data storing and all the security policies in place. On the other hand, RemoteApp is adequate when it is needed to install a single app remotely. The app will still be in the cloud, but the user will get to use it from its device. That way, multiple users can get the same user’s experience through their native device.
All in All
Students and teachers have all they need for uninterrupted internet schooling. One can handle the solutions mentioned here with their present skills and without the assistance or extra help from their respective IT departments.
In terms of what’s next in virtual classrooms and distance learning, further refining the available online tools is to be expected. Startups and new companies are also pushing their products in an attempt to disrupt online education.
But from the way things are, Microsoft and its remote learning systems will remain at the forefront of home education. At least that’s the overall impression in the tech community.