The COVID-19 pandemic changed everything around us. School education has arguably taken the most vital hit. It has changed drastically. Remote virtual learning is now the preferred method, thanks to the widespread availability of internet technology. Teachers and students are gradually becoming accustomed to the art of online education and discovering new ways to take part in learning activities similar to those found in traditional schooling. The right headphones for online classes can significantly contribute to your education.

However, the lockdown has changed our lifestyle completely. Children’s lives have become significantly different compared to the previous decade. They barely have access to outdoor activities now and they cannot physically meet up with their friends. That obviously means they will spend more time on their electronic devices, playing games, and watching videos online. This, combined with their online classes, has a cumulative negative impact on their sensory organs and mental health. 

Around one billion youngsters around the globe are at risk of hearing loss due to the unsafe use of earphones, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It has always been documented that excessive gadget use is linked to medical problems, and after months of lockdown, ENT doctors are starting to observe an increase in ailments in children. Increasingly, children are reporting discomfort and pain in their ears due to ill-fitting earphones, which can cause hearing loss. Further, prolonged exposure to electronic noise causes ringing in the ears. In addition, mold found in earphones increases the risk of ear canal infections such as “otomycosis.”

There is no safer alternative to online classes, but some methods and practices make the online learning process safer for our ears.

Safer learning methods with Headphones for Online Classes

• Headphones for online classes are more secure than earphones.
• It is even safer to use external speakers of decent quality if the volume is kept under 80 decibels.
• There are a lot of free apps available on the internet that can be used to monitor the noise level in the room where the child is doing their e-learning.
• Purchase high-quality electronic devices for your child’s use.
• When your child is wearing headphones, be aware of your surroundings and avoid noisy areas.
• The 60/60 rule should be followed: Listen for no more than 60 minutes at 60 percent of maximum volume.
• You should let the hair cells in the inner ear rest by taking frequent breaks from noise exposure – at least 15 minutes per hour of use.
• Dirty earphones make it easier to catch an ear infection.
• Before putting it on your child, test the sound levels on yourself.
• Encourage your child to engage in rejuvenating activities such as yoga, exercise, meditation, art, and dance.

Most of these practices include headphones. They are essential for online learning and teaching. Headphones for online classes are not much talked about, but they can help students and teachers fully immerse themselves in their virtual world by hearing every detail and blocking out much noise from other sources.

When you teach online or even as a student, you must pick the right quality of headphones. Let us see the factors you should consider while choosing the right headphones.

How to Pick the Best Headphones for Online Classes

1.    Lightweight 

You want light and comfortable headsets to wear as an online teacher or student. You also want headsets that appear relatively regular and streamlined, rather than goofy or distracting. Headphones suitable for listening to music, watching streaming movies, or playing video games are typically large and bulky. This is acceptable in most situations, but not as an online instructor.

2.    Audio quality

The perfect headphones for online classes will have good audio quality and support video calls. You want to be able to hear everything that is happening as if it were right in front of your eyes. No fuzziness or feedback should be present. You do not need very high-end headphones for this setup, but you also do not want to get super-cheap headphones that break on the left side and leave you only hearing out of one ear.

3.    Noise Cancellation Mics

While it may not seem necessary, a noise-canceling microphone is essential for virtual classes. When learning online, both students and tutors will have a lot of background noise to contend with. You will want to get a pair of headsets with a microphone and noise-canceling features to eliminate this issue. This will ensure a high-quality, enjoyable online teaching experience. These microphones will only be able to hear you and nothing else, including any pets or background conversations. 

4.    Cost-effective

You do not need luxurious headphones to get the most out of your virtual classes. The majority of today’s high-quality options come at an affordable price and perform better for online learning than a variety of more significant players. 

5.    Comfort with Headphones for Online Classes

Comfort comes first. You may not consider comfort to be necessary, but it is an aspect of a headset that should not be overlooked. These headphones for online classes will be worn by you or a student in your life for several hours at a time. Check that the headset you choose is adjustable, padded, and has a sturdy yet comfortable frame. For prolonged use, “on the ear” headphones are less painful than “over the ear” headphones. 

Conclusion

Now more than ever, students are taking virtual classes as part of their daily routine. Education’s new normal includes virtual classes and homeschooling, whether as a necessity or a choice. The key to getting the most out of online education for students of all grade levels, including college students, is to have the right equipment at an affordable price. The use of headsets and voice amplifiers in distance education has been an enormous benefit.

Think about investing in a headset with excellent sound quality and a noise-canceling microphone. Students and adults may prefer headsets that are a bit heavier, while young learners may need small, light headphones. In this new virtual world of teaching via webcam and virtual classrooms, the right headphones can play a vital role.