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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 seven 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. When the pandemic hit, gear became in outrageous demand, and that means a lot of name brand stuff was out of stock. It also means unscrupulous folks were scalping and gouging on price. That seems to have settled down since then, but keep alert. 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...
You may think that teaching over video requires ideal video quality, but it's actually sound quality that matters the most. You can get by with lower frame rates and even pixelated video, but if your sound is annoying, folks will tune you out immediately.
I've been using the Blue Yeti for years and it produces good quality sound reliably. It comes with a number of different pickup patterns, which gives you a bit of versatility in how you use it. The included stand stood me well for years, but I recently upgraded to a boom arm, which I'll show you in a minute.
Buying hint: These are in and out of short supply due to the pandemic. If they're out of stock in one color, look for another color. Also, don't let the price gougers get you: this should run about$130 or so, new.
Budget option:You can get by with something simple likethis budget headset for under$10. It gives you an adequate mic (who are we kidding here?) a headset speaker, and because it's over-the-head, you don't need to worry about a stand.
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If you're spending long hours in front of your mic, you want the mic to come to you, rather than you having to hunch down to reach the mic. Trust me on this. Your back will thank you.
I've used this RODE microphone arm for years. In fact, I have two of them. There's not much all that exciting to say except it works and has never let me down.
Alternate option:The Rode mic stand goes in and out of stock. An alternative of similar quality is the Blue stand, which pairs nicely to the Blue Yeti I just recommended.
Budget option:See my note for the mic headset above. You won't need a budget boom arm (and you kind of don't want one, because the last thing anyone wants in the middle of a meeting is to have their mic come crashing down -- don't ask me how I know).
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Peter Piper, who picked a peck of pickled peppers. Let's leave out the question that's baffled me since I was three: How does one pick a pepper that's already pickled? Instead, let's just focus on the poof of air that comes out of your mouth when you begin a word with "p." Microphones pick that increase in air pressure and magnify it to the point where it's very annoying to listen to.
The solution is easy. Add a pop filter. There's no magic to which to use, but I've found this type quite convenient. It's a relatively low added expense for the benefit it provides.
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I use two different kinds of audio monitors depending on whether I'm on camera. When I'm off camera doing a webcast or radio interview, I use these cans. I also use these in zoom chats, because I can hear better and how I look on screen isn't as critical. They're nice, high-quality headphones that won't break the bank. Because they're black without any bling, they're also unobtrusive if you do need to use them on camera.
The "other kind" I mentioned is next...
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When I'm on camera in a shoot where the video quality counts, I use these nearly-transparent in-ear monitors. While they don't tunnel the sound as well as the bigger Sennheisers, they don't stand out on screen. They do help isolate noise and I've found they can be adjusted to fit reasonably well, a challenge many other ear buds have failed at miserably.
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So, here's the thing. I usually use Logitech webcams. However, they've been hard to get ahold of since the entire world went virtual a few months back. If you can find them, and sellers aren't gouging for price, a nice c920x is a win.
The fact is, the c920 series is the benchmarkwebcam. It's used everywhere, and while some Logitech software sometimes has its ups and downs, you can be pretty sure that if your software supports webcams, it specifically supportsthis webcam.
One final webcam hint: Just because your webcam can do 1080p or even 4K doesn't mean you need to Your upload bandwidth is likely to be considerably lower than your download bandwidth, so you may want to go with 720p at 15 frames per second. Most home cable feeds can handle that, but not much more.
Premium option:The Logitech BRIO is nice, but it's generally overkill for Zoom meetings. Plus 4K takes a lot of upload bandwidth, so you may be dropping it down to c920 levels anyway.
Budget option:Your laptop and phone both come with cameras. Use them and save some money.
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Turns out tripods are popular in pandemic times. The Amazon Basics version of this thing is no longer backlogged months. But it's still a buck more than this roughly similar tripod. If all you're supporting is a webcam (and possibly a lightweight teleprompter), all you need is a basic tripod.
This one fits the bill. I like the fact that it's got a quick release camera mount as well as quick release legs. It comes with a smartphone adapter and a bag. What else is there to say? It's a tripod.
Budget option:This tripod is pretty budget all on its own, but if you want to go real basic, pile up a stack of books. Tape your camera to a folding ladder or the back of a chair. Hot glue it to a shelf. I've done all of these and they do work. Just not as conveniently as a tripod.
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When I set up my first studio in a 9x10 foot spare room, the audio was terrible due to the reflections from the small space and hard surfaces. Acoustic panels saved the day. They're just one of many options to blunt the sound, so there are other choices, but these might get you started.
Budget options:Raid your attic and linen closet. Find old moving blankets, comforters, fuzzy blankets, anything soft that can blunt the noise.
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When I moved into our new house, my office had the hard surfaces problem I had in other homes, but it also had a brutal afternoon sun that screwed up my video lighting. Blackout curtains came to the rescue. They can be as expensive as acoustic panels, but because they're quite heavy, they work great as sound buffers. Plus, they block out the light.
You can see how I used similar curtains to baffle sound in my studio office in this video.
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