EdConnect™, a technology company providing video messaging (VM) products designed to enhance communication between students and faculty in an online educational environment, will be offering its service for free to faculty and students who are now teaching and learning from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “In an environment where in-person meetings aren’t possible and texts are insufficient, VM is a powerful and efficient platform for important communications,” said Justin Johansen, Chief Operating Officer for EdConnect. “With so many people wondering how they are going to continue their daily routines, we wanted to help by offering EdConnect at no cost.”
Multiple research studies have shown that reliance on text and email can leave online students feeling disconnected and alone. While no replacement for face-to-face communication, VM, technically known as “asynchronous video communication,” can enable the kind of multi-dimensional communication that more clearly conveys a message and creates a greater sense of community in online or hybrid courses.
While a basic EdConnect account is always free, EdConnect Premium groups offer enhanced functionality like unlimited video storage, transcription, and LTI integration. EdConnect Premium groups are normally priced at $1 per user per month, but until June 1st, 2020, any groups created will automatically be upgraded to Premium accounts, giving all users in the group access to the Premium features free of charge for an entire year.