Are you looking for the best headphones for teachers in the classroom?
Are you doing more online teaching and finding that your built-in laptop speakers and microphone just aren’t cutting it?
Headphones aren’t necessarily issued as a standard part of a teacher’s IT setup but they’re becoming an almost essential item now.
If you’re primarily running classes online then it makes sense to invest in some headphones. The most crucial element of any lesson is for students to be able to hear their teacher clearly and a headset with a quality microphone can make them feel as though they’re right there in the room with them.
If you’re classroom-based most of the time, headphones can also be very useful. Whether it’s to block out external noise to help you concentrate between lessons or for making calls or working from home. You might even want to get headsets for your students for certain lessons to help them avoid distraction.
But when there are so many to choose from, how do you know which are the best headsets for online teaching?
Prices range from under £10 up to hundreds of pounds so you don’t want to make the mistake of spending too little or far too much. Here are the key factors to consider when choosing your headphones:
On-Ear or In-Ear
This is the first big choice to make and for us, it’s a no-brainer. In-ear headphones are great for commuting or exercising but even the leading ones can become uncomfortable when worn for a long time. Whilst they will usually have a built-in microphone it’s not as reliable as an external one and will never have crystal clear quality.
We’re not suggesting you get a big bulky pair of headphones that you’d expect to see in a recording studio. Just a standard-sized headset with comfortable ear pads and an adjustable microphone that can be positioned next to your mouth. This looks professional too and should tell students that once the headset is on, class is in session.
Audio Quality and Microphone
You don’t need to splash out on top-of-the-range headphones with bass boost and all the latest settings. The most important thing is for you to be able to hear voices clearly, so look for a headset that favours speech. A microphone is absolutely essential so that your students can hear you. The last thing you want is for them to be able to use that as an excuse! If blocking out external noise is important to you then you should consider a headset that includes noise-cancelling.
Size and Durability
As you’ll likely be moving around between classrooms and home you don’t want headphones that are too big and cumbersome. Look for those that will fit comfortably but don’t take up too much space. And be wary of the very cheapest headsets as you may find they are all too easily damaged when transported in a bag.
The Choice is Yours
Once you understand the features you need your headphones to have it’s really just a case of deciding your budget and picking the ones you like the look of best. At Counterpoint, we have a selection of headsets with microphones perfect for teachers. We also have a broader range of classroom headphones suitable for students and a variety of noise-cancelling headphones for minimising distraction.