The Verizon-owned videoconferencing platform BlueJeans has launched a dedicated Corporate Learning and Training platform to improve engagement in virtual learning environments. Credit: BlueJeans Verizon-owned videoconferencing platform BlueJeans has announced the launch of a dedicated Corporate Learning and Training environment, which aims to make corporate learning easier by bringing instructors, participants and all necessary learning tools together in one dedicated virtual environment. Features include a dashboard designed to provide a snapshot of the training session and quick access to classroom management tools; a ‘Collab Board’ whiteboard for collaboration with up to 25 users; and a Weather Person mode, allowing the presenter to be layered on top of the content being shared in the meeting. The platform will also offer simultaneous language interpretation options for attendees in up to five concurrent channels, automated closed captioning in five languages, and sessions will be able to accommodate up to 1,000 participants. Instructors will also have access to a ‘hard mute’ function, where they can disable the microphone or video stream for all participants and prevent participants from unmuting themselves. Corporate training is big business According to a 2021 industry report by Training magazine, cited by BlueJeans, training expenditures rose by nearly 12% between 2020 and 2021 in the United States, with organizations spending an estimated $92.3 billion on corporate learning. The study also found that virtual classrooms and webcasting accounted for 37% of the total number of hours spent on training, up from 23% in 2020. Krish Ramakrishnan, chief of innovation and product at BlueJeans said that corporate learning environments should empower instructors, without the overhead associated with facilitating virtual or hybrid training. “Working with Verizon’s global corporate training experts, we’ve been able to hone in on what matters most to corporate trainers and consolidate learning, collaboration and training into one place to keep employees engaged throughout their learning and development journey,” he said. BlueJeans is not the first videoconferencing platform that has pivoted into the virtual learning space in the wake of the pandemic, although most currently available platforms are currently targeted at school learning, rather than corporate training. Last year, Microsoft started offering Microsoft Teams for Education, providing a virtual classroom environment for teachers and students. Elsewhere, Zoom also offers a Zoom for Education plan, which provides support for remote and hybrid learning environments for primary schools, secondary schools and in higher education institutions. Related content feature Windows 11 Insider Previews: What’s in the latest build? Get the latest info on new preview builds of Windows 11 as they roll out to Windows Insiders. Now updated for Build 22635.3570 for the Beta Channel and Build 26120.461 for the Dev channel, both released on May 3, 2024. By Preston Gralla May 07, 2024 252 mins Small and Medium Business Microsoft Windows 11 news analysis 3+ reasons Apple might want to make its own server chips Apple reportedly has a top secret plan to make AI chips for servers to provide generative AI services. By Jonny Evans May 07, 2024 5 mins Apple CPUs and Processors Generative AI opinion GenAI is to data visibility what absolute zero is to a hot summer day Given the plethora of privacy rules already in place in Europe, how are companies with shiny, new, not-understood genAI tools supposed to comply? (Hint: they can’t.) By Evan Schuman May 06, 2024 6 mins Data Privacy GDPR Generative AI news How many jobs are available in technology in the US? Tech unemployment was down slightly in April, but AI hiring was up — way up. And job listings showed more signs of a shift in recruiting practices with a growing emphasis on skills-based hiring. By Lucas Mearian May 06, 2024 160 mins Remote Work Salaries Financial Services Industry Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe