Web Conferencing
Web Conferencing Tools
Austin Community College (ACC) supports the following web conferencing tools:
- Google Meet
- Webex
- Zoom
Google Meet
Google Meet is part of the Google Suite available to ACC faculty, staff, and students.
- Attachments can be shared through Google Calendar announcements or Google Drive.
- Meetings include automatic live captions (note: accuracy is not guaranteed).
View Google Meet Knowledgebase articles
Webex
Webex can be used on any device — PC, Mac, tablet, or smartphone — to set up audio or video conferences with colleagues or students.
- Supports up to 1,000 participants, though only 25 are visible at once.
- Includes automatic live captions (not 100% accurate).
View Webex Knowledgebase articles
Zoom
Zoom is a cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars. It is the newest web conferencing tool available at ACC.
- Gallery view supports up to 49 participants per screen.
- Licensed accounts: unlimited meeting time with up to 300 participants.
- Polling available (learn more about Zoom Polls).
- Breakout Rooms available (learn more about Breakout Rooms).
- Closed captioning can be entered by the host or assigned participant, or generated after recordings.
- Post-meeting reports available when enabled in settings
(learn more about Zoom Reports). - Co-hosting available — hosts can allow another person to start a meeting.
View Zoom Knowledgebase articles
Class for Zoom
Class for Zoom is an additional app designed for teaching.
- Available on iPad and Android tablets (not phones).
- Includes a Personal Meeting Room with an “Office Hours” feature (not widely available to faculty).
Important Note on Auto-Captioning
Auto-captioning in Google Meet, Webex, and Zoom is a helpful accessibility feature but is not 100% accurate. Faculty should monitor captions for accuracy.
Training and Support
- Teaching Consultations: Get ideas on how to implement web conferencing tools into your courses. Request a Consultation
- Training: Educational Technologists are available to provide training. Request Help
- Workshops: Learn more about teaching and learning tools. View the TLED Calendar
Contact us
For updates or additional support, email TLEDcomms@austincc.edu. To report outdated page content, email tledwebsite@austincc.edu.
Need help deciding which web conferencing tool to use? See the comparison chart below.
| Features | Google Meet | Cisco
Webex |
Zoom | Class for Zoom |
| Max. # Simultaneous Video | 50 | 25 | 49 | 300 |
| Max. # Simultaneous Audio | 50 | 25 | 300 | |
| Max. # Participants | 250 | 2,000 | 300 | 300 |
| Chat Feature | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Can Record Session | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| File Sharing Capabilities | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Screen Sharing Capabilities | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Polling | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Whiteboard | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Breakout Rooms (Group Work) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Remembers Content for Reuse | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Live Captioning | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Chat Transcripts Available | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Attendance Reports | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Students can Create a Session | ✔ | |||
| Voice Over Internet Protocol | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Voice Over Phone | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Mobile Device Capable | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Integrated with Blackboard | ✔ | ✔ | ||
| Green Screen Compatibility | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Waiting Room feature | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Personal Meeting Room | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Video Pinning | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Blur/Virtual Background | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
Web Conferencing FAQ
No. Faculty must use one of ACC’s supported platforms.
- Platforms must meet College Accessibility standards (AR 1.01.002).
- Supported platforms have been vetted for accessibility and institutional compliance.
- If you find a tool with instructional potential that is not currently supported, you may
submit a proposal to the Instructional Technology Advisory Committee for review.
Faculty are encouraged to work with TLED’s Academic Technology Support team to stay informed about emerging technologies.
There is no single “best” tool. The right choice depends on:
- Internet availability and stability in each area of Austin
- Course design and instructional needs
- Student accessibility requirements
- Device distribution: Since Spring 2020, ACC has provided iPads (1,500 kits currently available) and laptops as needed for specific courses.
- Peripheral support: Students can request headsets, microphones, webcams, and other devices.
- Internet access: Wi-Fi is available in ACC parking lots for students without reliable home internet.
- Subsidy program: ACC is monitoring the FCC’s new internet subsidy program and will share details once it launches.
TLED’s Office of Academic Technology leads pilots each year to test emerging tools.
- Opportunities to apply are announced through the Office of Faculty Communications.
- To request institutional review of a new tool, contact: Matthew Evins, Director of Academic Technology at matthew.evins@austincc.edu.
All proposals go through a formal review, including accessibility testing and feedback from the Instructional Technology Advisory Committee.
While ACC has not conducted a formal survey, anecdotal feedback suggests:
- Zoom is the most preferred by students.
- Nearly all Student Affairs video conferences with students use Zoom.
- For accessibility: Zoom’s superior video refresh rate makes it the required platform when working with deaf students using sign language interpreters.
For etiquette guidelines and best practices, visit:
Tips for Web Conferencing Your Class