How Headphones in the Classroom Support Independent Learning

Classroom headphones are becoming more and more popular; however, many are still on the fence about how they can create and support an ideal independent learning environment. From minimizing background noise to helping students relax, headphones are quickly becoming one of the top learning tools utilized by instructors in classrooms around the world. Read on to learn some of the benefits headphones can bring to any classroom.

Minimize Background Noise

Classrooms are noisy. Even in the quietest classroom, students talk, keyboards clack, and pencil sharpeners whiz all throughout the average school day, so why let these noises distract your learners? Headphones facilitate noise cancellation, allowing students to ignore the noises they’d normally hear every day. As a bonus, they also allow for a quieter classroom in general, meaning instructors can receive some quiet time as they prepare for other lessons or grade assignments.

Optimal Learning Environment

A quiet learning environment optimizes students’ learning experience, meaning they can learn quicker and retain more information. Optimized learning environments allow students to focus on their tasks, and headsets are the perfect way to create the correct atmosphere for each student’s needs. One methodology a number of instructors find helpful is teaching their students that when headphones are on, it’s time for learning. This tends to make students know they need to focus on what they’re focusing on. Finally, some students learn better with music. Allocating time for students to listen to their music while working on an assignment may improve focus.

Practical Applications

Headphones are not just for the classroom; they can also be used in a variety of other locations. Certain areas or lessons may benefit from headphone use, including:

• Listening Centers
• Language Labs
• Computer Labs
• Using Computer Programs
• Watching Videos
• Cafeterias
• Events
• Field Trips
• Loud Areas

Some of these areas may be for the benefit of the environment, like computer labs, while others can benefit students with disabilities who can feel overwhelmed by too much stimulation. Regardless of where headphones are used, they allow students to focus on what instructors are teaching without distractions.

Facilitates Relaxation

School can be a stressful environment, especially for younger children. They’re outside of their comfort zone which may cause behavioral issues, stress or anxiety in some children. Headphones allow students to relax and create their own personal learning space they can thrive in. For students who become overstimulated or those with behavioral issues, instructors may find that giving students a few minutes of headphone time may calm them down or allow them to better focus on lessons before rejoining their classmates.

No Hearing Issues

Parents understandably may worry about their children’s hearing, but headphones at a reasonable volume have not been shown to cause hearing issues. Most hearing issues are actually caused by constant exposure to extremely loud noises, like concerts, construction sites or even noisy classrooms. Headphones give students an auditory break by making them refocus on their lessons and protecting their hearing. Finally, students with hearing issues may become better equipped to complete their lessons by adequately hearing their instructors.

Maximizes Focus

We’ve talked a lot about focus in this article, but it definitely necessitates its own section. Headphones allow students to “spend” their mental effort in productive ways by focusing on learning, without over-exerting their brainpower. Headphones block out noise and feed students the information they need to know, which can be especially helpful for auditory learners who may struggle with traditional visual learning methodologies. By pairing headphone learning with visuals, instructors can reach all their students—no matter which learning style they’re more likely to utilize. Finally, headphones during testing periods allows students to create an individualized learning environment that fits their needs, meaning they may score higher on standardized test scores.

Make Easy Accommodations

Accommodating students’ needs can be difficult, especially when multiple students are at different reading levels. Students who are behind can experience stigmatization from their peers if their delays are known. Headphones allow students to learn at their own pace, letting instructors tailor each students’ curriculum to their needs, rather than attempting to make all students learn the same material (with some falling behind and more advanced students becoming bored) at the same time.

Make Learning Fun

Keeping students’ attention all day can be one of the hardest aspects of teaching due to the monotony of lessons. Headphones can facilitate learning becoming a fun experience. Even giving students headphones in a fun color can make learning fun, but they also allow teachers to utilize a variety of programs and games they wouldn’t introduce their students to without headphones. Finally, teachers can reward their students for good behavior with “headphone time” by allowing them a few minutes of music or games, leading to better behavior in the classroom.

Affordability

Creating an individual learning environment for each student can be expensive, from printing personalized worksheets to buying special supplies. Headphones allow instructors to easily tailor their curriculum to each student by allowing them to utilize a variety of programs they simply need to download onto a device and plug some headphones in. This allows instructors and schools to spend a minuscule amount of funds when compared to what they’d spend completing the impossible task of tailoring their supplies to each students’ needs. While headphones may have a higher up-front expense, they can save schools thousands over the course of the school year.

Headphones can become an invaluable tool for schools and instructors to create individualized learning environments for all their students. From facilitating quiet, safe, and less stressful learning environments to making accommodations dependent on student’s learning styles and their ability to handle the stressors of a classroom. By providing students with headphones, teachers will most likely see an improvement in focus, grades, and test scores, meaning they have more time to dedicate to crafting better lesson plans, completing administrative work, and spending more time outside of the classroom. For more information on school headphones, please visit our website.