In 2020, when students around the world were forced to stay at home and switch to online school, people scrambled to purchase headphones for their children to help them focus, minimize distractions and background noise, and communicate more effectively with teachers and classmates.

Now that school has been back in session for in-person learning for over two years, one might wonder if distance learning headphones are now unnecessary. However, many teachers have found that incorporating headphones and headsets for school classrooms into their lessons can bring about numerous advantages. By helping students remain focused and reducing noise levels, the use of headphones has shown potential to enhance retention of information. It’s safe to say that these headphones continue to play a crucial role in the learning experience, whether in-person or virtual.

Benefits of distance learning headphones in the classroom

Aside from the advantages students can gain from using headphones and headsets during class, such as watching a video on their Chromebooks, playing an educational game, or completing a test, distance learning headphones offer the opportunity for students to connect with peers in other classrooms within their school, a different district, or even another country! With the help of new classroom technology, teachers are utilizing platforms like Zoom to co-teach lessons. 

This innovative approach allows educators to team up with another teacher and take turns presenting the material, creating a more engaging and diverse learning experience. Not only does this relieve the burden of planning alone, but it also adds excitement to what could otherwise be viewed as a mundane class.

Connecting across the miles with interactive distance learning technology

Although students have returned to in-person learning, the co-teaching concept can still be utilized. By logging into a Zoom call on their own devices, teachers and students can connect with another class, whether they are down the hall or in a different country. For example, a classroom in Denver, Colorado used Zoom to connect with a classroom in Dublin, Ireland, providing fourth graders with a unique learning experience. Not only did this allow them to meet peers from a different place, but it also gave them the chance to observe and compare similarities and differences between their classrooms, teachers, and selves. The use of distance learning headsets was crucial in ensuring clear and precise interactions during this collaboration.

As we reach the middle of our third year back in person, it’s easy to assume that distance learning headphones and headsets don’t matter anymore, but in fact they can still go a long way toward enhancing lessons, adding a “wow” factor, increasing focus, minimizing background noise and distractions and so much more. If your headphones or headsets for school classrooms have been gathering dust on a shelf since 2021, now’s the time to pull them out and start putting them to work in classroom lessons!