5 Things You Need to Check Before Streaming Your Online Lesson

As a teacher, streaming your lessons online means freedom and flexibility. You don’t have to rush to the classroom and carry your materials to every class. You can reach students from every corner of the country who need an internet connection to attend today’s lesson. 

As a professional shaping the minds of the future, you want your students to have the best learning experience. This means understanding you clearly and following the lecture carefully without interruptions and technical issues. So before you go live, it’s wise to be prepared and check the following things in advance.

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Test Your Internet Speed

The internet speed needed for streaming is easy to test and crucial for the quality of your live lessons. A slow or unstable connection leads to buffering, pixelated video, and annoying interruptions that distract everyone. So, for the lesson to go smoothly, you’ll need a stable broadband connection with a sufficient upload speed of at least 3–5 Mbps for HD streaming. For better quality or more students to join, think about 10 Mbps or more speeds.

Check Your Equipment and Setup

A fast connection is not enough for an online lesson to be successful. It would be best if you also had the right equipment. First, ensure that your webcam provides a clear picture and is positioned so your students can see you. Next, test your microphone to see if your students can hear you. Poor audio affects the quality of learning and may even contribute to students logging out of the online session. Lastly, your PC or laptop should function smoothly without software updates or low battery issues interrupting the lesson.

Use Strong Security Measures

Educators face cybersecurity threats like unauthorized access to their streaming sessions. Hackers or unwelcome visitors could disrupt your class or steal sensitive data if the stream is not secure. To avoid this, ensure everyone has passwords for entry. You can also include a waiting room feature to see who joins the lesson. 

Next, make sure your streaming platform uses encrypted connections. A virtual private network (VPN) is a superior option since it masks your real IP address and encrypts your internet connection. This way, all your online activities and lessons will be protected. A VPN stops hackers from tracking your geo-location or intercepting your data.

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Choose the Right Streaming Platform

Not all streaming platforms are created equally, so you need to choose one that meets the requirements of your lessons. For example, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet are some of the most popular ones used in online education. They’re practical since they include features like screen-sharing, breakout rooms, and file-sharing. 

Don’t forget to check if a platform is compatible with your equipment. It also needs sufficient privacy controls to protect your students’ information. 

Be Careful of Cybersecurity Threats at All Times

Teaching online is convenient, but it also increases the risk of cybersecurity threats. 

Phishing attacks: These are common and dangerous. They target teachers, by sending sketchy emails or links that can compromise their login information or streaming accounts. Delete suspicious emails right away, and don’t click on links without verifying the sender’s identity and reliability.

Zoombombing: This happens when uninvited guests start disrupting your lesson. You can prevent it by requiring registration and authentication from your students. Next, use secure links and monitor all participants before the lecture begins. Lastly, when the lesson starts, set up the in-room security settings. This way, you decide if students can chat, unmute, share their screen, etc.

Data privacy violations: Throughout a lesson, students share their personal information, lesson plans, and other educational content. Hackers can access this information without proper security measures and leak it online. Or even worse, they can use private data to execute targeted attacks. Choose platforms that offer end-to-end encryption to keep your and your student’s information safe and private. Regularly check the privacy settings to ensure you only share information with your students. 

Conclusion

Streaming your lessons can make learning fun and efficient. Still, you need to pay attention to the security of your streaming sessions. Preparing in advance can make the teaching process smoother, and cybersecurity measures like a VPN can make every lesson safer. Check all the tick boxes and start your lesson with confidence.