It seems like it only takes a few minutes of the day to think about all that goes into the start of another school year. To some, school is closed until August and it’s vacation time. That’s not always true though when it comes to the IT director, the head media specialist, and the school superintendent. Summer is a busy time for these educational administrators as they get the classrooms and technology ready for the upcoming year. Updates to the Chromebooks, software updates, and a complete refresh of technology in the classrooms are all being done in the hottest months of the year. One very important piece of technology that often gets overlooked in this summertime preparation, though, is the headphones.
If you’re a school that allows Chromebooks in the classrooms, then you know how important school Chromebook earbuds are. You may need audio for an online lesson or maybe just online assessments. Maybe the students need headphones to learn a new language or to enjoy a multimedia project. Whatever you need the headphones for, you’ll have a world of headaches if you don’t use the right pair for your school.
Why You Should Test the Headphones in the Summer Before Sending the Students Back to School
The last thing you want to deal with at the end of summer is audio not working during those first few days of school. Testing your classroom technology in the summertime allows you to do it in a low-pressure environment.
Here are a few reasons to test your headphones at school before sending them out to the students:
- Check if the headphones are compatible with the ports on the Chromebooks
- Identify headphones that are already damaged or broken
- Check if a good microphone is included with a school purchase
- Prevent classroom disruptions during the first few days of school
- Plan ahead to save on bulk buying before back-to-school sales go up
There are many benefits to testing Chromebook headphones before back to school. It saves you time and money that you wouldn’t want to spend in the fall, once students are already back in the classrooms.
Check for Chromebook Compatibility
Another thing to check when buying headphones for Chromebooks is compatibility. Chromebooks in the past were compatible with older devices that had headphone jacks, but newer ones have different requirements and often use USB-C instead.
When buying classroom headphones in bulk, ask these questions:
- Will the students’ Chromebooks use USB-C, 3.5mm, or a combination of both?
- Do you already have a certain type of headphones in inventory? Will you need adapters?
- Does the headphone purchase include a microphone for students to complete their work?
Make sure you have compatible headphones for Chromebooks ahead of time, and you’ll save yourself headaches when school gets back in session.
Test for Durability
When buying headphones for school, you’ll need to make sure they can handle a student. Students tend to handle their school supplies roughly, which can lead to damaged headphones or a much shorter product lifespan. Testing your headsets will give you an idea of whether you’re dealing with a product that won’t hold up.
Testing your headphones for classroom conditions is a good idea. Be sure to test the product by checking:
- The cords, to make sure they won’t twist
- The ear cushions, to make sure they’re comfortable to wear
- The headband, to see if it will adjust
- The plugs
- The audio quality, to see if it’s clear at low and high volume
If the headphones used in the classroom are durable, your district can save a lot of money in the long run by buying quality headsets that can withstand a lot of student use while staying within your budget.
Don’t Forget the Headset Microphone
With more classrooms using online collaboration, digital learning, speech assessment, and hybrid learning, a good microphone is becoming even more important. Testing your microphone will let you know if your students come through clearly during online classroom work, so you can give feedback and help them stay focused on learning instead of getting frustrated.
Summer School Tech: Headphones
If you want your Chromebooks ready for next school year, you need to make sure your headsets are too. Test your Chromebook headphones now so you’re ready to hit the ground running when you get back to the classroom. Testing now gives you the information you need for a less stressful school year: you’ll know they work, what they work with, and whether you’re happy with your purchase. You’ll help your students stay focused on their schoolwork, and you’ll spend less time figuring out how it all works.
If you’re looking for Chromebook headphones for your school, you’ll want to check out all the options. There are Chromebook headphones available that are perfect for classroom use and durable enough to last for years of student use. Get those in stock for back to school.