What happens when educators from around the world come together to share how they’re teaching and learning with BigBlueButton, the open-source virtual classroom built for online teaching and learning?
You hear a lot less about technology than you might expect.
BigBlueButton World brings together educators, learning technology leaders and members of the global BigBlueButton community to share how they’re using synchronous online learning to create more engaging, effective virtual classrooms.
This year, educators shared stories about connection, participation, understanding and the very human moments that happen when teachers and learners are able to be together, even when they’re far apart.
Across the sessions, one idea kept coming through: a virtual classroom shouldn’t simply recreate a meeting online. It should help educators understand what’s happening with their learners and respond in the moment.
As Tammy Baker from Minerva Virtual Academy put it:
“Where a recording can explain, a live session can respond.”
Seeing student learning happen in a virtual classroom
Elaine Warriner from Minerva Virtual Academy described BigBlueButton as giving educators a “live map” of student understanding.
It’s about giving teachers a clearer picture of who’s participating, who’s understanding the material and where students might be struggling, so they can slow down, change direction or spend more time on a concept when needed.
Erin Carr from Pansophic Learning captured that distinction simply:
“BigBlueButton is created for teachers. It’s not just a meeting.”
Making distance smaller through synchronous online learning
The stories shared during the conference also reminded us why access to a virtual classroom matters in the first place. Students are more responsive when they experience a human connection with their teacher.
Adam Schultz from American Technical Publishers shared how BigBlueButton supports apprentices who may be travelling to remote job sites while continuing their education. For those learners, having a virtual classroom that is intuitive and accessible isn’t simply convenient. He described BigBlueButton as a lifesaver.
Mary Beth Graham from Indiana Tech spoke about how they use BigBlueButton to humanize the classroom experience.
Tammy Baker shared how BigBlueButton has helped her move beyond simply delivering lessons to guiding students through their learning journey, creating space for connection, participation and discovery along the way.
The underlying need is remarkably consistent: technology should help people feel more connected to the people they’re learning with, not less.
Using technology to increase connection in online education
AI is changing education quickly, and technology will continue to play a larger role in how courses are created, delivered and experienced.
But more technology doesn’t have to mean less humanity.
As Erin Carr said:
“We want the technology to increase connection, not replace it.”
That may be one of our favourite takeaways from BigBlueButton World this year.
BigBlueButton has always been built around the needs of educators and learners. The conversations at BigBlueButton World were a reminder that the most meaningful technology often isn’t the technology people notice most.
It’s the technology that gives teachers more ways to teach, learners more ways to participate, and everyone more opportunities to connect.
If you teach online, discover how other educators are building stronger connections with students and creating more meaningful learning experiences.
Watch BigBlueButton World 2026
Explore the sessions and hear how educators around the world are using BigBlueButton to create more engaging, connected learning experiences.
