Learning is always fun. But, there can be a problem of low attendance when students are prevented from being in the same room as the teacher. Thanks to the internet, we’ve solved that problem as well, since now we can have live streaming classes.

Students don’t have to force themselves to wake up, rush to school and doze off at the desk while the teacher drones on; now they can doze off to a live stream of their teacher droning on. If the live stream gets recorded, now they can rewatch it, skip over parts they’ve heard before, slow it down or speed it up.

Streaming a class yourself

The proliferation of technology and the internet has made it very easy to create a live streaming class. The good news is that anyone can become a teacher. The bad news is that making a high quality stream that delivers all the information you intend to transmit takes a whole set of skills.

Quality live streaming requires good software and hardware for capturing audio and video and then a solid internet connection for streaming it. In theory, you can stream with your smartphone but you’ll soon run into trouble, especially if you want to add some novelty. For example, if you pan with your smartphone, you are likely to make your stream blurry.

Setting up audio

There are special cameras that can handle panning and zooming but they should ideally be installed on a tripod to minimize shaking. The tripod should be secured to prevent it from being knocked over. Next up is the audio.

Again, you can use your smartphone to record audio but you basically need to hold it to your face to ensure it’s captured clearly. If you use a dedicated microphone, you should learn how to use an audio mixer or the background noise might crowd out you speaking.

The right streaming software

Next up is choosing the ideal software to help you stream. Some programs, such as OBS, provide you with a whole host of live streaming presets but you again need to tinker with the settings in case there’s something unusual about your setup. By the way, OBS is free and open source, with automatic recognition of streaming platforms, so it’s worth exploring.

There is also paid streaming software out there, with most providing you with tech support if you get stuck. The best choice of action is choosing the ones with a free trial and trying them out before committing to a purchase.

Ensure the bandwidth

Video streaming is the most demanding way of transferring data in terms of internet bandwidth. You need to ensure not just the bare minimum of bandwidth but as much free bandwidth as you can so the stream doesn’t get interrupted during the class. Otherwise, you might start a live stream and it gets cut off as soon as you open a Wikipedia link on the same internet connection.

How would a pro do it?

A professional that decided to set up a live streaming class would first check out the room where the class will be held. Depending on the acoustic properties of the classroom, the professional would choose the right audio equipment for the job.

Whether the lighting is natural or artificial would also come into the equation. Cameras most often have a dynamic range and can adapt to varying levels of light, though that can affect video quality. The professional would again assess the situation and bring in extra lighting, if needed.

Next up, the professional would choose the most suitable software for the job. This is typically whatever provides the highest level of compatibility and convenience for the client. Then comes checking the internet connection using specialized tools to ensure there are no jitters during the lecture.

If you were to watch the professional in charge of setting up a live stream at work, you’d think it’s all so simple but there’s a lot of nuance there. That’s a part of the secret—everything looks simple when a professional does it.

Conclusion

Anyone can make a classroom live stream but only a professional can do it effortlessly. Besides, you’d want your stream to be so smooth and impeccable that students watch it several times, wouldn’t you? That can only happen with the help of a professional.

If you need help setting up a live stream, get in touch and we’ll gladly do it for you. If you have any special streaming requests, we can fulfill them without a problem. Even if all you need is advice, we’re here to help you out.