Lesson 1 of 7 · 6 min · 8-card deck

Setting up your virtual classroom

Camera, audio, lighting and a distraction-free background that pupils can focus on.

Pupils form impressions of online lessons within seconds. Poor audio is the single biggest predictor of disengagement — far more damaging than a slightly fuzzy camera. Invest in a basic USB microphone or a wired headset before anything else; built-in laptop microphones almost always sound muffled and pick up keyboard noise.

Position your camera at eye level. Looking down into a webcam makes you look distracted and authoritarian; looking up looks unprofessional. A stack of books under the laptop fixes this for free. Frame yourself from chest to just above your head, with light coming from in front of you (a window facing you, not behind you).

Active recall flashcards

Work through every card. Try to answer in your head before flipping — the act of retrieving is what builds durable memory.

Card 1 of 80 understood

View every card to unlock the next lesson.

Practice scenario

A teacher reports far higher engagement after switching from a built-in mic to a £25 USB headset, raising the laptop on three textbooks, and adding a small lamp in front of the screen. No software changes — just three physical adjustments.

Try this in your classroom

Use a wired headset or USB mic — never the built-in laptop microphone.
Camera at eye level, light source in front of you.
Have a pre-lesson 5-point tech check done 10 minutes early.
Open all lesson tabs and links before pupils join.