A state-funded educational pilot set out to reimagine classroom learning by addressing the growing teacher shortage in a bold, new way. Their mission: to ensure students in under-resourced districts still had access to highly qualified educators. To make this possible, they turned to SpatialChat.
KEY OUTCOMES
- 100% of pilot program courses demonstrated measurable student growth
- 70% of participating students hadn’t had a live teacher-led class the previous semester
- The percentage of students reported feeling supported and engaged by their virtual instructor increased from 45% to 85%
The Challenge: Equalizing Access to High-Quality Instruction in a Teacher-Starved Landscape
This innovative learning initiative was created to support public school districts across the state grappling with significant shortages of certified teachers. The approach was both simple and effective: students stayed in their regular classrooms while experienced instructors delivered live, virtual lessons remotely. Each group was supported by an on-site facilitator who helped maintain structure, offered immediate assistance, and ensured that the environment remained safe, focused, and interactive.
Rather than rely on pre-recorded content or stretch limited resources across multiple classrooms, the program prioritized live interaction and personalized instruction — without requiring teachers to be physically present.
“We wanted to create a model where every pupil, regardless of location, could experience high-quality teaching,” said the program’s instructional design lead. “Teacher shortages are a national issue, and this pilot was our way of tackling that head-on.”
To bring their vision to life, the team needed a virtual classroom solution that was both dynamic and dependable — one capable of replicating the interactive energy of a physical space, encouraging active participation, and making students feel truly engaged and valued. The goal was to get exceptional teachers in front of learners in districts struggling to hire qualified staff.
The Solution: Connecting Students in Classrooms with Expert Teachers Online
Once the team discovered SpatialChat’s virtual classroom solution, they recognized they had found the right partner to help address the teacher shortage and create a better way to connect students in-person with qualified educators across the state.
“SpatialChat enables teachers to live in the communities they choose, but still reach students anywhere in the state,” explains the program coordinator. “It also provides pupils with equitable access to top-tier education, ensuring that even if they live in rural areas or places with teacher shortages, they can still have highly qualified instructors guiding them in their classrooms.”
“SpatialChat empowers teachers by giving them the tools they need to effectively manage their students remotely,” adds a program researcher.
“We face a situation where teachers aren't always living in the communities where they’re needed… SpatialChat’s online ed solution helps schools rethink their talent pool, opening up opportunities for educators beyond just the local area,” says the program coordinator.
Key Features That Help Enhance the Learning Experience
Individual and Group Chat Feature
“Sometimes students are afraid to ask questions aloud. SpatialChat provides an alternative way to communicate with teachers during class time,” shares the program researcher. “Not everyone communicates the same way, so SpatialChat allows us to give students a variety of ways to engage.”
Breakout Rooms
With SpatialChat, teachers are able to break the classroom into smaller groups for focused discussions. What’s even more convenient is the ability to view all breakout rooms simultaneously, ensuring teachers can easily monitor and support each group.
Centralized Academic Environment
“We work with so many unique schools, but having one platform that integrates well with all the schools’ learning management systems (LMS) provides a bit of consistency for our teachers,” explains the researcher. “It’s great to have a platform that we can fully support, so our teachers don’t have to switch between different platforms. This consistency benefits both the students and teachers.”
Integrations
SpatialChat enhances the online teaching experience with seamless integrations such as Miro Whiteboard, Google Docs, YouTube, Kahoot, and more. These tools support a collaborative, interactive environment for students. Additionally, the platform integrates with Canvas LMS, ensuring a smooth experience for both teachers and pupils.
Attendance and Participation Tracking
“From a research perspective, I appreciate being able to track and analyze various elements that are featured in the platform’s dashboard,” says the researcher. “Knowing how often a student raises their hand or uses reactions gives us valuable insight into engagement in real-time. SpatialChat’s reporting and analytics features allow us to dive deeper into attendance trends, participation rates, and overall interaction patterns. This data is essential for understanding schoolroom behavior and improving the overall experience.”
Multiple Screen Sharing
Teachers can share multiple screens during lessons, offering clear visibility into different resources and materials. This feature helps maintain engagement and makes it easier to present a variety of content.
The Result: Creating a More Equitable Learning Experience for Every Student
By using SpatialChat to power their innovative classroom model, the team has been able to support schools and learners across the entire state—especially those in areas where finding qualified teachers has been a persistent challenge. With a flexible and responsive platform, they’ve been able to deliver consistent, high-quality instruction while directly addressing the broader issue of teacher scarcity.
“There are so many moving parts within our model, and having SpatialChat as our foundation really helps us stay adaptable,” shares the program researcher. “One teacher can connect with students in four different communities across the state in a single day. And the pupils get to remain in their familiar school environment—surrounded by friends, maintaining their routines—so they’re still receiving that important social and emotional support.”
“Some of the tools built into SpatialChat have opened up entirely new ways of learning—ways they might not have encountered in traditional, in-person classes,” adds the program coordinator. “We want to give students those opportunities to explore, reflect, and think intentionally about their academic journey.”
With SpatialChat, the team is currently:
Putting High-Quality Teachers in Front of More Students
“One district just couldn’t find qualified teachers no matter what they were offering. That’s over 100 pupils who would have missed out on live instruction this year. We’re able to step in and provide not just any teacher, but a certified, experienced educator,” shares the program researcher.
Increasing Learning Opportunities for Students
“There were some advanced learners who wanted to keep moving forward, but the school didn’t have the resources to support additional coursework. By partnering with the school, we made sure these students could continue studying with the right support and expertise,” notes the researcher.
Enhancing the Model to Meet Students’ Unique Needs
“SpatialChat is helping us grow our team of instructors and expand the courses we offer, so we can reach even more students across the state. We work with a wide range of schools, and it’s incredible to see how the model adapts—not just from one community to another, but even within a single classroom. We’re able to personalize teaching and learning to meet every student's needs,” says the researcher.
Ready to see how SpatialChat can transform learning at your school or organization? Talk to our team today.