The schools are facing major problems due to the corona-related closure - and two pressing questions: How long will this last? And how can teaching still take place? It is not enough to simply throw learning materials at pupils. Rather, a solution is needed that also enables teachers to establish visual contact with young people.
BigBlueButton (BBB)
We have been using BigBlueButton for our meetings, customer appointments and training sessions for a long time. BBB is an open source software that we host ourselves and that can be used in compliance with the GDPR.
As ambassadors for free and open source software (FOSS), it goes without saying that we rely on free and open source software (as an alternative to proprietary and commercial software) for video conferencing and remote training solutions.
With BBB, classic video conferences can be held, in which you can also participate via telephone. But the programme can do much more. The ability to share screen content with other participants and work together on a board is what makes it really interesting.
BBB classrooms
BigBlueButton is a great way to set up classrooms in which lessons can be held on a smartboard or computer as usual. The difference to the normal school day is that the kids sit at their computers at home. Interactions such as hand messages, questions or working together on the whiteboard are no problem. Even the teachers do not necessarily have to be at school. They can also hold lessons from home.
Of course, presentation files can be uploaded and shared. A chat and breakout rooms are also integrated so that work can continue in smaller groups.
Without data snooping
Anyone who wants to teach or hold video conferences securely and in compliance with the GDPR will find BigBlueButton a very good alternative to services such as Skype, Microsoft Teams, Google Hangouts and Zoom, none of which are data protection compliant.
