Students taking advantage of video conferencing

Two high schools in East Tennessee adopted video conferencing services, allowing the facilities to share resources, information, faculty and increase collaboration. The schools are able to use the technology to create integrated classrooms for niche subjects and topics.

Normally, adding a new class to the curriculum would cost each school money for a teacher and supplies. Using video conferencing, the schools can combine the classrooms, share a teacher and all the necessary materials for the course. This way, schools can offer more unique, focused courses students show interest in taking, and not worry about filling the seats to make the new class worth the expense, Blount County NBC affiliate WBIR reported.

Even outside the classroom students are using video conferencing services, with internships and mentoring programs as more companies are taking on young professionals to work remotely. According to Bloomberg, college students are starting to apply for internships that allow work to be completed around their class schedule virtually, using video conferencing technology. Students are able to gain valuable experience in a variety of fields, while balancing schoolwork and a social life. The increase in virtual internships comes in response to the rising number of companies enabling flexible workplaces for a more mobile workforce.