Choosing Videoconferencing Equipment

One of the keys to a good online course experience is quality sound. It is highly recommended that both the instructor and students should use a headset or dedicated microphone with noise cancelling. However, most laptops have built-in speakers, microphones, and cameras, and those are sufficient for online courses.

A noise cancelling microphone gives you the ability to talk and listen less feedback from keyboard, electronic activity, air conditioning, and other background noise, as well as reducing interference other’s can hear you more easily.

If you use the built in speakers and microphone in your computer, you may experience office noise, and worse, transmit that noise to the other participants, making yourself difficult to hear and understand.

Most any good headset with noise cancelling will work but the models listed below are a good starting point. The college is vendor neutral and these are provided only as examples.

It is up to you whether your headset is wireless or wired. MANY headsets will fit the need but here are a few to get started. Wireless headsets, while convenient, often require more complex 'pairing' to your computer and you must assure the batteries are charged.

Below is a list of suitable cameras to use for Online Learning. 

NOTE: This is not a comprehensive list, this is just to get you started on your search.