VIPKid Teach for iPad

Overall, I like this app and the ability to be highly mobile and teach 100% on my ipad. It’s a all I use. I don’t own a PC. HOWEVER - it is buggy. 1. When switching to my next class - the camera never works. I have to shut he app down and get back into the app between every class. 2. About 1/3 of the time upon reopening the app, the app crashes several times before it lets me in. This has caused me to start classes a few seconds late many times. I often have to shut it down and restart it several times before it will let me in the classroom. 3. Some teachers complain that it is portrait - this doesn’t bother me. I like it because having the camera centered at the top works well with my lighting setup. Landscape would have the camera on the side, which might be fine - but I prefer the portrait orientation.

I love teaching from this app. Or should I say, I loved teaching from this app. I’ve taught over 800-classes, but two weeks ago, I started having issues with the student not being able to see me when my camera was open. I know it was not my internet issue as my speed was great and my ping was 25. This happened for 4-days. I would have to reload the class 2 or 3-times and then it would usually work. I received a teacher IT, from continually having this issue. I started signing on early to deal with the issue, so that when the class started I had already switched lines and/or reloaded the class multiple times. I gave up and have since gone back to using my laptop... I really love using the iPad. Please fix this issue so I can start using it again. If it. Didn’t have this problem it would have 5-stars.

I recently had to teach from the iPad app when my laptop camera randomly did not work one morning, so the app did save me from having a teacher IT problem. However, the student saw a mirror image of me, which meant that everything in my background was backwards. I received an email shortly after class saying that the map of China in my background was not aligned to Chinese educational standards - obviously! Developers - please fix the camera so that it displays a real image just like the laptop classroom app does!!! Otherwise, teachers will need to make sure they do not use any written language props or background materials, or anything else that would be incorrect if flipped around in a mirror image (like my map!). I will keep it on my iPad in case of another laptop emergency but will try to remember to be careful next time about it being a mirror image.

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Yay! I can finally teach from my iPad when I’m traveling....PSYCH! How are we supposed to have a consistent teaching flow from our iPad if we CANNOT LEAVE CLASS FEEDBACK from within the app?? This is super basic. Instead, I can only do it from a desktop computer app, which I wouldn’t have if I were traveling and do not own a laptop. Also, their new “updates” means one page of programmed app content (which only allows you to see your upcoming classes-you can’t even easily access your class materials like in the phone app). Instead, you have to click on the “home” button, which just ports you to their browser link. I’m astounded that they can have 60,000 teachers and cannot figure out how to have a decent app that supports both teaching and feedback. At first I was excited that they finally added landscape mode, but then I realized it was to no avail. Come on, VIPKID. I keep trying to give you a chance, but this is embarrassing.

I’ve been teaching with VIPkid for 1000+ classes over the last two years. I had to switch too the ap because I have an Ipad now with a Bluetooth keyboard and can’t use the portal anymore. It’s buggy. It crashes often and sometimes the I.T. people try to blame it on the teacher’s internet even when I have a high-speed, direct-to-the-router connection. Other teaching apps I use don’t crash like this. Also, often when I can see and hear the student, and they can hear me, we see different slides and I have to reload the classroom or switch lines many times. It doesn’t benefit anyone or help me do my job. This should not be happening. Please fix it. This ap has great potential and I love the ability to teach while living abroad with a company I enjoy and students that I adore! Thanks.