| There are multiple ways to communicate in a SchoolSpace world. From face to face video chats to school-wide broadcasts, you'll learn how communication works in this virtual campus and how to get started. Whether you're a student joining for the first time, a teacher leading a class, or a parent exploring the space, this article will teach you the basics of communicating on SchoolSpace. |
SchoolSpace is more than a virtual classroom - it's a place where people connect. Just like on a real school campus, communication in SchoolSpace is built to feel natural, safe, and engaging. There are multiple ways to communicate, including:
- Face-to-face video chats when you walk near others
- Broadcast for announcements and one to many video streaming
- Text-based chat messages to individuals or groups
All conversations happen in real-time and communication tools are designed to help students socialize, collaborate, and learn in a safe and secure environment.
Types of Communication in SchoolSpace
Face to Face or Spatial Video Chat
Just like walking up to someone in the cafeteria, when your avatar moves close to another person, your video and audio connect automatically. This is called spatial video chat. It's peer-to-peer (P2P), which means it's private, secure, and encrypted. Because only people with your school log in can enter your SchoolSpace world, you’ll never encounter a “zoom bomber.”
Spatial Video Chat is great for:
- Group work
- Tutoring
- Study Hall
- Clubs and Extracurricular Activities
- Socializing with friends and teachers
- Casual hallway conversations
You can see and talk to the people closest to you. The default is up to 9 closest people but the SchoolSpace team can increase this to up to 13 closest people. Reach out to support@schoolspace.io to request this change
Broadcast Mode
Admins and teachers can make their video visible to large groups. You can also choose to give teachers or admins the ability to turn on Broadcast for a student.
Broadcast Mode is great for:
- Teaching
- Presentations
- School assemblies
- Class or School-wide announcements
- Parent info sessions
Broadcasts can be shared with the whole world or within a specific area of the world.
Only certain users (like teachers or admins) can broadcast their video. These settings are usually set up ahead of time by the school or the SchoolSpace team.
Text Chat
Sometimes you just want to type it out! SchoolSpace supports different types of chat:
- Direct Messages (DMs): Send a private message to your friends. These can be one on one messages between two friends or group messages between multiple friends.
Direct Messages are persistent. They will be visible to you in any world and you can see your entire chat history.
- World Messages: Share a message with everyone currently in the same world as you via the Everyone in World Channel.
- Group/Zone Chats: Send a message to everyone in a private area via the Private Zone Channel or to those you're connected to via video via the People Connected to Me Channel.
- Moderator Chats: Moderators can send a message to all moderators currently in the same world via the Moderator Channel.
World, Group/Zone, and Moderator Chats are all Channel messages. These are session based (when you leave the world the chat will reload and you won’t see past messages), so they’re great for quick updates, reminders, or jokes with friends.
Text Chat is great for:
- Students who feel shy
- Sending announcements to the whole world
- Asking questions in class
- Connecting with friends and your school community
Moderators can choose what types of chat people can access in your SchoolSpace worlds. Learn more about Messaging Controls in the Moderation Handbook.
What You Need to Do to Communicate
Getting started is simple. Here’s how to begin:
- Sign in
You’ll need to sign into your SchoolSpace world. You can do this using your school’s login portal (like Clever or ClassLink) or with a direct invite link from your school. For more detailed instructions check out Entering SchoolSpace. - Enter the World
Move your avatar around using your mouse or arrow keys. Walk toward others to talk face-to-face over video chat. - Use Text Chat
Click on the Messages
icon to send messages or view past chats. - Join a Group or Activity
Your SchoolSpace world can have areas designed for clubs, study groups, or parent meetups. You can walk over and join in just like real life.
Keep Learning!
