How is Flat.social different from Zoom for teaching?

Zoom puts everyone in a video grid. Flat.social gives you a spatial classroom where students move around as avatars, form groups at whiteboards, and talk to whoever is nearby through spatial audio. Teachers walk the room instead of managing breakout rooms manually. It recreates the physical classroom experience online.

Can I use Flat.social for university lectures?

Yes. Use the Conference room with Speaker layout for lectures with screen sharing. For seminars and workshops, use the Open Spatial room with whiteboards and breakout zones. Many professors use both in the same session: lecture first, then group exercises.

Do students need to create an account?

Not if you enable guest access. Students click your class link and join in the browser with just a display name. For recurring classes, they can create a free account to keep their profile and settings.

Is there a discount for educational institutions?

Yes. K-12 schools, universities, and non-profit educational organizations qualify for special pricing. Individual teachers at qualifying institutions are eligible too. Email hello@flat.social to apply.

How do breakout groups work in the virtual classroom?

In the Open Spatial room, audio isolation zones create natural breakout areas. Students walk to their group's zone and only hear their group members. The teacher walks between zones, checking on progress. No need to manually assign people to breakout rooms.

What devices and browsers are supported?

Flat.social works in Chrome, Safari, and Brave on Mac, Windows, and Linux. Mobile browsers work too, but a computer with a keyboard gives the best experience for navigating the spatial classroom.

Online Teaching Platform

Spatial classrooms where students walk, talk, and collaborate like they would on a real campus

By Flat Team·January 1, 2023·Last updated: March 9, 2026

Professor Reyes teaches a 40-student Introduction to Design class. Last semester, she ran it on Zoom. Students kept their cameras off, nobody asked questions, and the "breakout rooms" felt like being shoved into a closet with strangers. She spent more time managing the tool than teaching.

The problem isn't online education. It's that most video call software treats a classroom like a business meeting. Students need space to move around, form study groups, approach the teacher with questions, and collaborate on shared materials. An online teaching platform should feel like a campus, not a conference call.

Flat.social gives educators a virtual space where students join as avatars, walk around using spatial audio, gather at whiteboards, and split into groups naturally. Teachers lecture in Conference rooms with screen sharing, then send students into spatial classrooms for group work. It's browser-based, no downloads, and schools get special educational pricing.

Students Talk Like They're on Campus

Spatial audio means students hear whoever is nearby. Small groups form naturally, and side conversations don't disrupt the class.

What is an online teaching platform?

An online teaching platform is software that lets educators deliver classes, lectures, and collaborative activities to students remotely. The best platforms go beyond video calls by providing interactive spaces where students can work in groups, use shared whiteboards, and engage with course materials at their own pace.

Why Schools Use Flat.social for Teaching

Spatial Classrooms

Students move their avatars through 2D rooms with spatial audio. They hear people nearby, form study clusters, and approach the teacher naturally. Audio isolation zones let groups work without hearing each other.

Whiteboards & Sticky Notes

Place collaborative whiteboards and sticky notes around the classroom. Students draw diagrams, brainstorm ideas, and organize group projects together in real time.

Lecture Mode

Conference rooms with Speaker layout for lectures. Screen sharing, active speaker detection, and Gallery view for class discussions.

No Downloads

Students click a link and join in the browser. Works on Chrome, Safari, and Brave. No IT department needed, no app installs.

Teacher Walks the Room

Instructors move between student groups, listen to discussions, and offer guidance through spatial audio. Just like walking around a physical classroom.

Walk Up to Any Student

Teachers move their avatar to any group and join the conversation. Spatial audio fades in naturally, so you can check on progress without interrupting.

How to Set Up Your Online Teaching Platform

1
Create your classroom flat
Sign up on Flat.social and create a flat for your course. Add a Conference room for lectures and an Open Spatial room for group work. Name your rooms clearly: "Lecture Hall," "Group Workshop," "Office Hours."
2
Build the learning space
In the spatial room, use build mode to set up group zones. Place whiteboards for collaboration, sticky notes for brainstorming, and billboards with assignment instructions. Add NPC characters at learning stations with reference materials students can click.
3
Set student and teacher roles
Create custom roles: teachers get build mode, screen sharing, and full permissions. Students get camera, mic, and reactions but restricted editing. This keeps the space organized during class.
4
Share the link with your class
Send your flat's URL to students. They click and join in the browser. No account required if you enable guest access. For recurring classes, the link stays the same all semester.
5
Run your first class
Start with a lecture in the Conference room. When it's time for group work, direct students to the spatial room. Walk between groups, check whiteboard progress, and answer questions. Bring everyone back to Conference for wrap-up discussion.

Try Flat.social for Your Classroom

Free to start. Schools and universities qualify for educational discounts. Build your virtual classroom in minutes.

Try DemoGet Started

Teaching Scenarios on Flat.social

Four ways educators use spatial rooms for different class formats.

Screen sharing and Speaker layout for instructor-led sessions

Collaborative Whiteboard Sessions

Place whiteboards and sticky notes in the spatial room. Student groups sketch, brainstorm, and organize ideas together in real time.

Tips for Educators on the Online Teaching Platform

Getting the most out of Flat.social in an educational setting:

1. Set up the room before class starts. Place whiteboards, billboards with instructions, and NPC learning stations in advance. Students walk in and know exactly where to go. Prep once, reuse all semester.

2. Keep lectures short, group work long. Present for 15 minutes in the Conference room, then give students 20 minutes of spatial group work. Short lecture cycles followed by active collaboration keeps attention high.

3. Walk between groups during exercises. Move your avatar through the spatial room. Spatial audio lets you listen in before joining a conversation. Students appreciate when teachers check on their progress naturally rather than "popping into a breakout room."

4. Use billboards for assignment briefs. Put instructions on billboards at each group zone. Students can re-read them anytime without interrupting you. It's the virtual equivalent of writing on the board.

5. Create an always-open office hours room. Leave a spatial room open all week. Students drop by, see if you're there, and ask quick questions. Much lower friction than scheduling a Zoom call. Check out our virtual study room setup for inspiration.

Tips for Students

Making the most of your virtual learning platform experience:

Turn your camera on. Avatars already show who you are, but a camera feed helps your teacher and classmates connect with you. It's closer to being in a real classroom.

Walk up and ask questions. See your professor in the spatial room? Move your avatar over and ask. It's a quick, casual exchange, not raising your hand in front of 40 people.

Use reactions. Got it? Send sparkles. Found something funny? Fireworks. Reactions give your teacher real-time feedback on what's landing and keep the class energy up.

Explore the learning stations. Click on NPC characters and billboards for extra materials. Many teachers hide bonus content, references, and study tips in the room.

Built-in Activities for Learning

Games, reactions, and interactive elements keep students engaged. Learning doesn't have to feel like staring at slides.

Educational Discounts for Schools and Universities

Flat.social offers special educational pricing for K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and non-profit educational organizations. Individual teachers at qualifying institutions also qualify.

To apply, email [email protected] with your name, institution, and how you plan to use the platform. Most applications are approved within a few business days.

For larger deployments across departments or campuses, reach out and we'll work with you on institution-wide pricing. We want every educator to have access to a virtual learning platform that actually works.

Downloads needed to join a class

Room types: spatial, conference, and chat

Role-based permissions for classroom management

Collaboration tools: whiteboards, sticky notes, screen share, and more

Online Teaching Platform FAQ

Explore More Education Use Cases

Virtual Training Platform

Gamified Learning

Virtual Study Room

Build Your Virtual Classroom

Spatial classrooms, whiteboards, and a teacher who walks the room. Create an online teaching platform your students actually enjoy. Free to start, educational discounts available.

Try DemoGet Started