Comparing Online meeting tools

Comparing Online meeting tools

TU Delft supports different tools for online collaboration/virtual classrooms/online meetings. Virtual Classroom (Bongo) is integrated in Brightspace and can facilitate up to 150 participants. Alternatively, MS Teams meetings offer comparable functionality integrated in MS Team when it comes to interactivity among participants, as does ZOOM. Only they can handle more participants. MS Teams also offers Live Events to facilitate higher numbers of participants. However, Live Events provide little room for interaction (only chat) and require a more elaborate setup (including support from a producer and the use of multiple screens).

When using any of these tools for live online sessions, please consider the advice on:

Virtual classroom (Bongo) MS Teams (Meetings) MS Teams (Webinar) MS Teams (Live Events) Zoom
Main purpose Online interactive classroom sessions Meetings and collaborating. All participants can join the discussion live. (co-)creation of documents. Similar to Teams Meetings, more controlled but still interactive meeting/webinar. Requires registration Broadcast/present video and meeting content to a large online audience. The audience can participate through Q&A, but not join active discussions. You need assistance of at least one other person when setting up and running the live event. Using multiple screens is recommended Web conferencing and video calling tool
Examples of use • Student and lecturer one on one • Lecturer and students in project groups
• Online Lectures (up to the max. amount of participants)
• Student and lecturer one on one • Students among each other
• Lecturer and students in project groups
• Online Lectures, webinars (up to the max. amount of participants)
• Online Lectures, webinars (up to the max. amount of participants) • Online Lectures, webinars (up to the max. amount of participants)
• You need assistance of at least one other person when setting up and running the live event. Using multiple screens is recommended.
• Student and lecturer one on one
• Lecturer and students in project groups
• Online Lectures (up to the max. amount of participants)
Windows compatible Depends on browser Yes, Windows 8.1 and later Yes, Windows 8.1 and later Yes, Windows 7 and later Yes
Mac compatible Depends on browser Yes, One of the three most recent versions of macOS Yes, One of the three most recent versions of macOS Yes, macOS X 10.10 and later Yes
Linux compatible Depends on browser Yes, public version Yes, public version No Yes
Integration in Brightspace Yes No No No No
Security/Privacy level
Max. Amount of participants 150 (30 users can share their camera) 300 (1000 with the Advanced Communications License (ACL)) 1000 10.000 300
Max. amount of participants you can see in a grid 10 (Max. 3 moderators can view 25 cameras) 9 in standard settings 49 in Large gallery view 49 in Together mode 9 in standard settings 49 (7×7) in Large gallery view. Participants cannot be broadcasted 49 per page
User modes Presenter, Moderator, Attendee Presenter, Attendee Organizer, Presenter, Attendee Producer, Presentator, Moderator, Attendee Host, Co-host, Alternative host, Attendee
Can students start a session No Yes, unless you change settings Yes, students can start Webinars Yes, but students need to have the organiser or producer roles to be able to start the live event. No, unless you change settings
Waiting room (Lobby) No Yes , only when you change the settings Yes, only when you change the settings Yes Yes
Meeting password No No No No Yes
How to enter meeting Normally via the Course in Brightspace. There is an option to make a public link to invite non-TU Delft Users (they can then access via a browser, no account or app needed). Via received invitation link. No account or app needed. Presenters join via a received invitation link.
Attendees need to register via a link and then get a link to join in their e-mail.
Via received invitation link. No account or app needed. Having an account can be made mandatory in the Live event settings. Via received invitation link. No account or app needed.
Dialling in by phone Yes No No No Yes
Max duration of meeting 4 hours 60 hours 24 hours 16 hours 24 hours
Recording option Yes. When you are recording online lectures, be extra aware of the privacy of students. Ask students to turn off their cameras before initiating a recorded lecture and if it is exceptionally necessary to include the student(s) images in the recording, make sure to clearly explain it in advance to the class. Yes. When you are recording online lectures, be extra aware of the privacy of students. Ask students to turn off their cameras before initiating a recorded lecture and if it is exceptionally necessary to include the student(s) images in the recording, make sure to clearly explain it in advance to the class. Yes. When you are recording online lectures, be extra aware of the privacy of students. Ask students to turn off their cameras before initiating a recorded lecture and if it is exceptionally necessary to include the student(s) images in the recording, make sure to clearly explain it in advance to the class. Yes Yes. When you are recording online lectures, be extra aware of the privacy of students. Ask students to turn off their cameras before initiating a recorded lecture and if it is exceptionally necessary to include the student(s) images in the recording, make sure to clearly explain it in advance to the class.
Whiteboard Yes Yes Yes No Live Eventb feature, but possible to share your desktop while using a Whiteoard app. Yes, including: text, draw, spotlight.
Polling option Yes. Can be created during the meeting. Yes, use Microsoft Forms. Before and during the meeting. Yes, use Microsoft Forms. Before and during the meeting. No Yes. Before and during the meeting.
Chat functionality during meeting Yes Yes, can be muted but not turned off Yes, can also be turned off. Q&A (private and public) for participants, private chat options for producers and presenter Yes, can also be disabled
Participant reactions / Status during meeting Raise hands or share status using an emoticon Raise hands, react using an emoticon. Raise/lower hands, react using an emoticon. No Raise hands or react using an emoticon
Screenshare Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Uploading presentation Yes Yes  Yes No Live Event feature, but possible to share your desktop while using PowerPoint. No, but possible via screenshare
Uploading files Yes, in the meeting chat Yes, in meeting chat Yes, in meeting chat No Yes, in meeting chat
Meeting notes No Yes  Yes No No
Breakout sessions 6 breakout rooms. Created in the meeting. 50 breakout rooms created in the meeting. 50 breakout rooms created in the meeting. 50 breakout rooms created in the meeting. 50 breakout rooms. Created in the meeting.
Presenter able to mute participants Yes Yes, possible to mute all participants or to don’t allow participants to unmute Yes, possible to mute all participants or to don’t allow participants to unmute N/A Yes
Audio options for participants Microphone or listen only Mute or unmute Mute or unmute (organiser can choose to disable this) Mute Microphone or listen only
Option to disable video Participant ? No Yes N/A ?
Application on mobile device No Yes Yes Yes Yes

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