WIDA (World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment) offers a comprehensive, research-based system of language standards, assessments, professional learning and educator assistance for developing English efficiency in multilingual learners in grades 1-12. Currently, 41 states, Puerto Rico and the Northern Marina Islands utilize WIDA language development resources and network consortiums. WIDA programs often require students to participate in listening and speaking exercises while wearing headphones, and it’s important to make sure they have the right headphones to get the best test results ..read more

EduTech tradeshows show us the latest advancements in educational hardware and software, but it can be overwhelming to have so many company reps offering you their wares. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to ensure you get the most out of your EduTech trade show experience, such as thorough planning and knowing what to look for in new products. Read on to learn how you can get the most out of attending an EduTech tradeshow. Before the Show Before you attend, you need to think of a few things, including: Your School’s Goals – Are you in the market for smartboards? Need upgraded school ..read more

Think headphones can be high-quality or affordable, but not both? Think again! Meet the AVID AE-39 headphones. AVID EDUCATION AE-39 The AVID AE-39 headphones are top-of-the-line USB headphones featuring a noise-canceling microphone. This model was created with sound quality in mind, as well as the rigors of daily home working and school environments. The AE-39 is equipped with AVID’s signature nylon braided cord, which is sturdy and resistant to twisting. The 1.8m / 6-foot cord with inline controls allows for a wide range of motion during operation, allowing for a more engaging working envir ..read more

Americans throw out between 300 and 400 million electronic devices every year, equaling approximately seven million metric tons, making the U.S. the world’s second-largest producer of e-waste (behind China). A recent survey of Americans between the ages of 18 and 38 by Decluttr found that 60% threw away one or more electronic devices between March and June 2020, rather than recycling them. The top three items discarded were charging cords, headphones, and cellular phones, a not surprising finding given COVID restrictions have made headphones and headsets a mandatory piece of equipment in ..read more

As more and more of our children’s school experience becomes technology-focused, the use of school headphones becomes more prevalent, with even the youngest students engaging in activities that require headphones at school at least once or twice per week. In fact, due to the unprecedented events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been no school years more reliant on technology, including school headphones, than 2020 and 2021. As schools closed down for in-person learning and pivoted to remote learning to help protect students, faculty, and staff from contracting the coronavirus, we ..read more

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 scho ..read more

As young adults with different educational goals and needs (not to mention larger heads!), it stands to reason that high school students may have different requirements and use cases for school headphones. Here are some of the things you should consider when determining which headsets will be the best for your high school student. Ear Cup Size Available in three primary styles, (in-ear, on-ear, and over-ear) the right ear cup size depends on each student; however, there are pros and cons of each style as detailed below. In-Ear – Commonly called earbuds, in-ear headphones require users to place ..read more

Parents, we’re not going to beat around the bush. Sometimes you just need a break from hearing “Baby Shark” on repeat…and that’s OK!  Or maybe you’re looking forward to a nice quiet dinner with your spouse, thanks to a little help from your friend the iPad keeping your little one occupied with a nice episode of Peppa Pig while you engage in the first adult conversation you’ve had all day.  Even parents of older kids know that having to overhear your child’s Fortnite battles can wear a little thin, especially if you live in a small space! What we’re saying is, if you are the parent of ..read more

As summer vacation begins to wind to a close, parents, students, and teachers alike are setting their sights on a school year that looks much more like the ones we all used to remember. After a fun-filled summer of gathering once more with our friends and loved ones, not to mention the return of playdates, summer camp, and Fourth of July fireworks in the park, we’re all excited to welcome the 2021-22 school year and get our students back on track for a year of in-person learning. However, we’re not completely out of the woods yet. Due to the rise of COVID-19 variants, lagging vaccination rates ..read more

The year 2020 will likely be remembered for one significant event- the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting fallout that caused the world to change completely almost overnight. Some of the creative workarounds and pivots we were forced to devise in order to continue the various systems and processes that make up our society turned out to be even more beneficial to us than the way we did things before and are likely to become part of our everyday lives even after the pandemic has officially ended. Food and grocery delivery services, online shopping, and mobile banking, for example- all things th ..read more