Education takes on all forms. There's traditional K-12, college, corporate communication and training, specialized online resources, and even YouTube. In this back-to-school guide, I'm not going to limit my suggestions to one discipline of education.
I'm also staying away from software recommendations because teachers need a lot of different types of software, but much of that is dictated by the school district. Teachers need students with access to computers and bandwidth, however, and there's a big digital divide issue. Many school districts are requiring at-home teaching but are not providing an equipment allowance, so the things I've recommended will likely to be an out-of-pocket expense for you.
That said, this is a guide to help you up your game. Where possible, I've kept my suggestions within a reasonable budget. For example, you can add an entire green screen kit -- with the backdrop, stands, and even the lights -- for under $100. I've included budget options because you don't have to have the best gear to get your thoughts and lessons across.
When I studied for my Master's degree in education five years ago, my thesis was a quest to discover the optimal online video learning experience for the most effective lesson retention. Here's the TL;DR of my results: It wasn't about gear. Learning retention, whether online or not, is all about the quality of the lesson and the resources that support learning. It's not about having the best cables, microphones, lights, and cameras.
Let that be an encouragement to all the teachers out there faced with sudden immersion into the world of online learning. Sure, it's nice to have great equipment (and never underestimate the importance of good sound), but you don't have to have a blinged-out studio to impart knowledge across the internet.
Before we jump into the list, I want to give you one more word of caution: Online teaching jumped from a niche practice to a must-have in just five months. Gear is in outrageous demand, and that means a lot of name brand stuff is out of stock. It also means unscrupulous folks are scalping and gouging on price. Do not spend extra to get your gear. Either wait or find a lower-cost alternative (which I've suggested throughout this piece). Don't give in to the crooks who want to profit on your mission to keep educating, even from home and even in a pandemic.
And now, the gear...
So, there you go. Feel free to share your online teaching experiences, tricks, tips, and challenges in the comments below.
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