Every Second Counts: Improving Sound and Sight to Reduce Learning Interruptions

The High Cost of Not Hearing or Seeing

When students can’t hear or see their teacher, learning grinds to a halt. 97% of surveyed educators reported they stop instruction at least 2x daily to repeat information students didn’t hear the first time. 89% said they pause at least 2x daily to repeat demonstrations students didn’t see. With each interruption, educators in the survey estimate that it takes 2 minutes to regain students’ focus. Over the typical school year, those 2-minute chunks add up to 30 hours of lost learning time.

Enhancing Audibility with the Right Headsets

Hearing the teacher clearly shouldn’t be a luxury—it’s essential for effective learning. Survey respondents noted that headsets with microphones can make classroom conversations and instruction more audible by amplifying the voices of teachers and students. They can also reduce noise-related distractions during testing and other situations in which students work independently. But 85% of respondents also reported experiencing technical difficulties with headsets, with nearly half of educators surveyed citing broken cables as a primary problem. Other common problems included audio that is soft or unclear, dirty headsets that can’t be cleaned, headsets that fit poorly, and the inability to afford enough headsets to go around. If these obstacles were addressed with technology designed for learning, headsets could reduce the need for repeated instructions, helping teachers reclaim lost time and keep students on track.

Made to fit better, sound better, and last longer, the Logitech Zone Learn Wired Headset is designed to tackle these exact problems. Its replaceable, micro-articulating ear cups fit snugly on younger learners for sustained comfort and focus. With swappable cables, it offers a plug-and-play experience across devices and saves schools the hassle of buying all-new units if a single part wears out. It’s also extensively wipe-tested and drop-tested to ensure cleanability and durability. 

“A good pair of headphones can be a game-changer for students who need to focus in noisy classrooms or during online lessons.”

- School Technology Director in Pennsylvania 

Tackling Vision Challenges with Projectors and Displays

The survey highlighted that a considerable number of students struggle to see the board or the teacher, often due to issues with seating arrangements. Giving all students a clear view of lessons should not be an afterthought for schools. When students can’t see properly, they miss out on critical information, which leads to repeated demonstrations and lost time.

Technologies like cameras, projectors, and interactive flat panels can help by magnifying demonstrations and content. 77% of teachers who use these tools say they reduce the amount of time they spend moving around the classroom and repeating demonstrations so that all students can see. However, 1 in 5 teachers in grades 3 to 12 say they lack access to either cameras or interactive flat panels. Cameras are especially uncommon: According to the survey, half of classrooms in the typical district or school don't have content cameras, and only 10% are equipped with whiteboard cameras.

The Logitech Scribe Whiteboard Camera illustrates how great design can lead to great visuals and reduce classroom disruption. The camera’s built-in AI and custom lens provide outstanding clarity no matter where students are watching from. Its transparency effect allows students to see “through” someone writing on the whiteboard, so they never lose track of important content. And its seamless functionality means educators can use it in one lesson after another without having to pause to connect or troubleshoot.

In small rooms, the Logitech Meetup 2 Video Conferencing Camera makes remote students feel like they’re at the center of the discussion. The camera’s RightSight 2 technology finds the perfect view and automatically frames active speakers, while RightSound 2 audio technology auto-levels soft and loud voices and excludes unwanted noise. Flexible deployments, simple installation, and the ability to easily manage and update the camera remotely make Meetup 2 a popular choice for IT teams.

For stunning close-ups of non-digital content such as art projects and science experiments, educators can use the Logitech Reach Adjustable Content Camera. Developed in collaboration with educators, it has a pivoting head that lets users smoothly position the camera wherever they want with one hand — without interrupting the lesson. Reach’s novel vantage points and clear images make it easy to engage students sitting anywhere in the classroom or at home.