Selecting a Wireless Microphone for Teachers in the Classroom
Not long ago, the primary tools of an educator were a blackboard and a stick of chalk. Students sat at their desks in neat little rows and took notes by hand in composition notebooks.
That scenario is now a distant memory. Today, teachers might be giving e-learning instruction to dozens of students in a large auditorium, while some members of the class check in from their homes across town, across the country, or across the globe. They might be leading a collaborative learning session where students do most of the talking. They might be teaching a distance learning class from their home office to those participating from their kitchen table, or they might be recording a lesson that students can access at their leisure.
Whatever the scenario, classrooms or training spaces today frequently involve the use of communication equipment including computers, speakers, and webcams. And probably the most important link in the technology chain will be a wireless microphone.
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It’s difficult to overestimate the importance of audio in education, whether it’s being used to educate K-12 students, college undergrads, or those working on a Ph.D.
Good audio is the foundation of effective learning and is essential to student achievement. Numerous studies have validated that integrated classroom audio is a proven tool to improve students’ opportunities to learn. Today, a classroom sound system has become as important as that chalk and blackboard.
But when it comes to selecting the right classroom microphone to go with that sound system, instructors will likely find an overwhelming number of choices.
In most cases, though, the choice of microphone will be determined by the instruction format. Here are a few examples:
It’s not uncommon for teachers, particularly university professors, to provide instruction in a large lecture hall. Of course, they don’t want to be tied to the podium. For those scenarios, they’d likely want to go with a portable microphone for teachers. A portable wireless mic allows the instructor to walk around the room, ask questions, and encourage student participation. Amplified audio also benefits those students with limited hearing.
Yamaha Unified Communications offer solutions specifically for educators. The EDU Kit Wireless Microphone System, for example, is great for live lectures. With rechargeable batteries and no wires or battery pack needed, the wearable mics allow flexibility for teachers and facilitators to move about and engage naturally.
Some educational institutions have implemented instruction in a hybrid, or “learn anywhere” format. Under a hybrid format, students have the option of attending class in person or participating via web conferencing software. For K-12 students, the format allows those who, for example, may have been exposed to COVID-19 to avoid missing classes. For colleges and universities, it allows those who lack childcare or may have difficulty juggling their work schedule to work on a long-delayed degree.
In those situations, a headset microphone for teachers might be the best solution. Not only will the microphone allow the instructor’s voice to be heard, but the included earphones will also allow the instructor to be able to hear questions of those attending remotely.
With distance education, students attend live sessions remotely. K-12 educators adopted distance education when COVID lockdowns were implemented, enabling students to attend classes from home. And now that lockdowns have been lifted, schools often shift to distance education in situations where schools may be closed. Again, a headset microphone is likely the best solution.
Speakerphones are another great option for teachers who need to host online classes. Portable speakerphones from Yamaha UC such as the YVC-200 or YVC-330 are great options for more interactive settings.
If there’s one downside to distance education, it’s that the term “snow day” might be fading from our vocabulary. With the opportunity for teachers and students to participate in classroom instruction from home, there’s no longer a need to shut down schools.
For the purposes of this discussion, we’ll use the term “online learning” to refer to a method of instruction where teachers record their lectures for students to access when they are able.
Under this scenario, the range of options is much wider. Wearable wireless mic, headset mics, or even tabletop mics might be an appropriate solution. A great option might be the Revolabs HD Single, Dual & Venue HD wireless microphone systems from Yamaha UC. These systems are optimized for spaces ranging from small conference rooms to boardrooms and auditoriums. The wireless mic system's portable plug-and-play design, simple setup, and superior HD sound quality make them excellent options for many applications.
When selecting a microphone for online learning, ensuring compatibility with your systems is key. Whether you want to add on to an existing system or are planning to switch in the future, a USB solution that is software agnostic enables your institution and lecturers the flexibility to switch from systems with little hassle.
Whether students are listening to lectures in the classroom, online during a designated meeting lime or listening to a recording, audio quality is paramount
Education technology has been an area of focus for Yamaha UC for decades. Visit this site to learn more about education technology and to download our free Education E-book. Contact us to speak with one of our experts.