A critical review of videoconferencing software to support school consultation

Abstract

With recent advances in technology, several viable options now exist for school consultants to communicate with teachers via synchronous online videoconferencing (VC) without the need for specialized equipment. Unfortunately, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of school consultation through VC, so practitioners are provided little guidance when determining if VC is suited to these specific needs. In this article, we identify the VC software packages most commonly used in the growing telehealth literature and discuss how features common to these programs might support effective school teleconsultation. We focus our attention on six specific capabilities: (a) onscreen document sharing; (b) group VC; (c) instant messaging; (d) recording capabilities; (e) integrated cloud storage; and (f) ethical compliance in regard to client confidentiality. Potential applications of these features are discussed, as well as practical and ethical considerations for trainers and school practitioners.