E-learning and Virtual Classroom Software Development

Features

Whiteboards ✍️

We tailor each whiteboard functionality stack to a specific case and audience: formula editor is not for language learning. The simpler the better, and the more cost-effective. Sometimes typing and drawing are just enough. We like developing custom whiteboards. Node.js and socket.io power real-time interaction in our products. But to test the concept and save time and money in the short term, we can integrate a 3rd party whiteboard component.

Drawing

Fast technology socket.io makes it feel like a pen and paper — so rapidly lines follow your mouse or finger. Your handwriting is now recognizable and not ugly.

Typing

With font and size editable.

Color and width adjustment

For drawing, typing, shapes.

Shapes — 2D and 3D

Square and cube, triangle and pyramid and cone, circle and sphere, parallelogram, trapeze, line.

Math formula editor

Makes fractions 2-floor with a horizontal line and gives special symbols.

Access to the whiteboard

Could be a mess if all drew at once. So the teacher gives access individually.

Several whiteboards per class

Сreate as many as you need on separate tabs.

Images

Upload and insert on the whiteboard, move, and reshape.

YouTube videos

Pin on the board.

Document sharing

We usually do pdf, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint but can add other. Write on top of the doc and use any other whiteboard tool.

Poll

Open and close questions, multiple-choice with 1 or more right answers.

Dictionary

Type a word, get a definition, examples, pictures. Among options to integrate we like Wolfram Alpha best.

Video chats and webinars on WebRTC 💻

1-on-1 and up to 4 people video chats

1-on-1 and up to 4 people video chats are good p2p, without a media server. You don’t pay for heavy video traffic, as it goes directly from one user’s computer to the other’s.

5 and more people

Webinars and video chats for 5 or more people require a media server. Good options proven by our experience are Kurento, Janus, MediaSoup, Jitsi, Wowza. 1st four are open-source—no license fees. But Kurento has a big community and detailed documentation. So with Kurento, it is easier and quicker, therefore cheaper—and in most cases we recommend it. All have pros and cons though—when we know your needs, we know which suits you best.

Text chat ✉️

Raise hand

Webinars would be too noisy if everyone could speak. So all but the teacher are muted. Click ‘raise hand’ to signal for the teacher to unmute.

Send files

You can send files to the class or directly.

Private chat

When you do not want the whole class to read.

Screen sharing 🖥

Share everything you do or just 1 application, a browser for example. Then when mom’s WhatsApp message pops up — nobody will see :)

Booking 📅

Jump on the lesson right away with the online teacher or book. Show free slots based on other bookings and teacher’s preferences.

Lesson recording 🎬

Class is shot as a video file. Download it on your device.

Learning management systems LMS for courses 📚

Create and edit courses. Add materials: videos, presentations, excels, word, and any format you need. Carry out tests with open and closed questions, marks, and certificates. Track attendance. Collect student feedback on discussion boards and forums.

Payment system 💰

Escrow

Student pays before the class, the teacher gets the money after the class if all is fine. Student raises a dispute if there’s a problem, then admin judges.

Split payment

% to the platform, the rest to the teacher.

Coupons and discounts like 2nd lesson 10% off

API 🔐

We can develop the API to sell the virtual classroom to others as an integrative component.

Costs

We develop custom software. Above is what we can do but you may not need all that. We think about what functions your users need and how to make them convenient. E.g., no need to hide access to the whiteboard and mute mics in 3-5 people webinars. It means there is no way to tell the price before all functions have been planned.

Component

~ 3 months · $24,800

The simplest virtual classroom we did—video chat + whiteboard—took 3 calendar months and USD 24 800. It was not a fully working website with registration and scheduling, but a classroom component to integrate into an existing website.

Website

~ 6 months · $60,000

A simple eLearning website with a virtual classroom takes approximately 6 months and USD 60 000.

We develop products like BrainCert on an ongoing basis

1st version: 6 months

In 2014 we developed the 1st version for 6 months. It was on Flash and Wowza and didn’t have all the current functions.

2nd version: 9 months

The 2nd version took 9 months. We rewrote it with new technologies and added functions. It was the 1st WebRTC and HTML5 virtual classroom platform in the world.

What is now

Now we work with them on an ongoing basis with a dedicated team. We listen to the user feedback: make the functions even more convenient and add new ones.