Build a Live Virtual Classroom with React and Stream Video

A tutorial explains how to build a mobile-ready virtual classroom using Stream’s React Video SDK and a lightweight Node/Express token server, avoiding the complexity of implementing WebRTC infrastructure directly. It establishes server-enforced teacher and student roles, with teachers assigned host permissions to mute individual students or the entire class while students join with microphones disabled by default. The React application uses Stream’s built-in video layouts, screen sharing, participant state hooks, and device controls to provide a teacher-oriented desktop view with a live roster and a phone-focused student view. A custom hand-raising system uses Stream custom events to maintain an ordered queue, synchronize raised-hand status among participants, and account for late joiners. The setup emphasizes keeping API secrets on the backend, using HTTPS for camera and microphone access on physical mobile devices, and cleaning up call sessions when users leave. Suggested production extensions include stricter request-to-speak permissions, chat, recordings and attendance tracking, and breakout rooms.

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