Fully integrating remote students into a traditional classroom using live-streaming and TeachBack

This paper proposes a simple method to add optional live-streaming to a highly interactive class in a way that reduces the number of students physically present in the classroom and doesn't hurt student performance. The effect of allowing live-streaming was analyzed by running an experiment where partway through the semester students in a flipped advanced level Computer Graphics class were given the option to attend the class remotely using a live-stream of the class with required use of a multi-featured audience response system (TeachBack). The results show that allowing remote attendance with TeachBack decreased the number of students attending physically from 93% to 75% of registered students and had no effect on unexcused absences. Students believed that their remote attendance was just as effective for their learning as attending classes face-to-face and analysis of the data confirmed their beliefs; they did however generally prefer being physically present in class. Our results suggest that appropriate use of live-streaming coupled with an Audience Response System can reduce some of the demand for large lecture halls by allowing a self-selected subset of students to attend some or all of the classes remotely. A large percentage of the students in the class felt that a live-streaming option should be added to most classes and this paper demonstrates that this goal is feasible and pedagogically justifiable.