This article has been reposted from thomgibson.com.
Click here to watch a video on how the Catchbox system is used in classrooms!
When I was in the throws of hybrid learning this past semester, I put out a video on how to manage all the mics and speakers in the classroom. The biggest issue was that my at-home students couldn’t really hear in-person students. My solution at the time was to just have all my in-class kids be on Zoom and unmute themselves. I just had to make sure I also muted my speakers when students did that so I didn’t get feedback. It wasn’t a great solution but it was all I could come up with.
In the process of preparing for that video, I came across a company called Catchbox that made a microphone inside of a foam box that could be thrown easily from one person to another.
A FUN MICROPHONE KIDS WANT TO SPEAK INTO
I brought the Catchbox system to my classroom for the last few weeks of school and the kids loved it. The kids at home heard everyone clearly and the kids in class all of the sudden had something to say just so they could catch the throwable microphone and speak into it!
Such a simple idea: just tossing something to a student who is about to speak can do wonders for engagement.
HOW WE USED THE CATCHBOX IN OUR FINAL STAFF MEETING
Our final staff meetings were all in-person (no one on Zoom). We meet in a fairly large room and usually don’t need a microphone for the presenter. We end each year by sitting in a big circle and having folks share things they appreciate and value about their colleagues. Often though, if you’re on the other side of the circle and someone is sharing, you don’t always catch everything they’re saying unless they’re loud and obnoxious like myself. Nothing’s worse than someone on the other side of the circle saying something nice about you and you can’t even hear them so you just nod and smile like an idiot.
I decided to set the Catchbox up so that way whoever had the throwable microphone would come through the sound system in the room.
If you think your classroom or school could benefit from a Catchbox, contact us today!