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We Found the Best Lighting for Online Teaching + Cool Usage Tricks!
Are you looking for some creative lighting options for online teaching? You’ve come to the right place!
Whether you teach English online or focus on other remote-friendly learning topics, lighting is essential to everyone who’s going to teach online. Many people who teach online don’t realize how important lighting is to the whole process.
We at the Tutor Resource have been teaching online since well before 2020 made it fashionable, so we know all the best lighting for online teaching tricks!
The best lighting for online teaching often comes down to a few key factors. One is the type of light you use in the room. Many people who teach online use their regular room lighting, which isn’t usually sufficient.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best lighting for online teaching as well as some tips and tricks for choosing the best lighting setup for your teaching space. So let’s dive in!
Best Lighting for Online Teaching: Shopping Options
There are many different types of lighting options that online teachers can use, each with its own benefits. However, not all of these are ideal options.
Here are nine different types of lighting for online teaching that are well-suited for online teachers.
1. Small, Portable Ring Light
One of the best lighting options for online teaching is a small, portable ring light.
These lights are also known as selfie lights, and they come in a variety of sizes. They clip onto your tablet or laptop.
The best part about these lights is that they have adjustable brightness, so you can customize the amount of light that you need.
This is the brand we personally use as digital nomads. And because they’re small, we travel with two of them to prevent weird background shadows.
2. Large, Portable Ring Light
Another great option for online teachers is a large, portable ring light.
These lights are also known as desktop ring lights, and they usually come with a tripod stand and a cell phone holder in the middle.
Like small, portable ring lights, these lights have adjustable brightness options.
However, the larger size of these lights means that they provide more light, which can be beneficial for online teaching.
👉 If the ring lights are too strong, get a fabric diffuser to help soften the light and reduce any harshness.
3. Adjustable Ring Light
This small ring light has a flexible neck that can be positioned any way that teachers need it.
Like other ring lights, they usually have an adjustable brightness setting.
This type of light is best for online teaching because it can be positioned to provide the best lighting for the teacher’s face.
Because they’re small, you’ll still need two of them to minimize shadows.
4. LED Panel Lights
LED panel lights are another great option for online teaching.
These lights are similar to fluorescent lights, but they’re more energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan. They come in a variety of sizes, and some even have dimming capabilities.
One benefit of LED panel lights is that they don’t produce a lot of heat, so they won’t make your online teaching space too hot.
And, they can be positioned in a variety of ways to provide the best lighting for your needs.
5. Flexible LED Desk Lamp
Flexible LED desk lamps are another great option for online teaching.
These lamps have a long, flexible neck that can be positioned in any way you need it.
Plus, they usually come with an adjustable brightness setting.
One benefit of these lamps is that they’re small and won’t take up a lot of space on your desk.
👉 We like Ottlite LED desk lamps because they come in a variety of styles and have excellent Amazon reviews.
Because they’re LED lights, they’re more energy-efficient than other types of lights.
Depending on the size and style of the bulb, you may need two of these in order to avoid odd shadows behind you while teaching.
6. Web Camera with Built-in Lighting
If you’re looking for a more permanent solution, you may want to consider getting a web camera with built-in lighting.
These cameras usually come with two LED lights that provide enough light for online teaching.
One benefit of these cameras is that they’re easy to set up and don’t require any additional lighting.
And, because the lights are built-in, they won’t take up any additional space on your desk.
👉 Get a privacy cover for your camera to block the view of the camera lens if you don’t want to be seen when it’s turned on.
7. Softbox Light Kit
One of the best lighting options for online teaching is a softbox light kit.
These kits come with two or more lights, and they’re ideal for online teaching because they provide a soft, diffused light.
The best part about these kits is that they’re adjustable, so you can customize the amount of light that you need.
This is a bigger setup best suited for long-term home office setups. It’s not ideal for digital nomads or online teachers who have to pack up their workspace regularly.
👉 If you want to use a softbox light kit but don’t want to lug it around with you, you can get a small, portable version. These kits are typically less expensive and just as effective.
No matter what type of lighting you choose, make sure that it’s positioned in a way that won’t create any harsh shadows on your face.
Just try to position the light so that it’s not directly in your eyes.
8. Full-Size Ring Light
One of the best lighting options for online teaching is a full-size ring light, like the Neewer Ring Light.
These lights are tall enough to stand on the floor, so you can use them while sitting or standing.
And, they usually have an adjustable brightness setting.
The best part about these lights is that they provide a soft, diffused light that’s perfect for online teaching.
9. Desk Lamp with a White Shade
If you’re looking for a more affordable option, you can get a desk lamp with a white shade.
These lamps are typically less expensive than other types of lights, and they offer a decent amount of light.
One benefit of these lamps is that they’re small and won’t take up a lot of space on your desk.
Plus, because they use a white shade, they won’t create any harsh shadows. It’s like a built-in light diffuser!
Pro Tip: If you don’t want the light to be too bright, you can get a dimmable version. This will allow you to adjust the brightness of the light to suit your needs.
If you’re in a pinch, you can use a daytime bulb as your lighting. These bulbs are designed to simulate natural sunlight, so they’re perfect for online teaching.
One benefit of these bulbs is that they provide a soft, diffused light that’s perfect for online teaching. Because they’re designed to simulate natural sunlight, they also won’t create harsh shadows.
Why is Good Lighting Important?
Good lighting is important for several reasons. The first reason is that it helps your students see you. If they can’t see you, then they can’t understand what you’re saying or teaching.
Additionally, good lighting also makes sure that any props or visuals you use during your online class are visible to your students. This is important because otherwise, they won’t be able to understand what you’re trying to show them.
Lighting Considerations
There are a few different things to keep in mind when choosing the best lighting for online teaching in your room.
The first thing to consider is the size of your room. If you have a large room, then you’ll need more light than if you have a smaller room.
Plus, you’ll need to take into account the time of day that you’ll be teaching. If you’re teaching in the morning, then you’ll need more light than if you’re teaching at night.
Finally, you’ll also need to think about the type of lighting that you want to use. There are a few different options available, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Popular Lighting Options for Online Teachers
Regular room lighting
This is the most common type of lighting used by online teachers. It’s typically not bright enough to provide adequate illumination, however. As a result, your students may have difficulty seeing you or anything else in the room.
Desk lamps
Desk lamps are a great option for online teachers. They provide a focused light source that can be directed wherever you need it.
In addition, they’re relatively inexpensive and easy to find. The downside to desk lamps is that they can be a bit harsh, so you may want to use a diffuser if you go this route.
Floor lamps
Floor lamps are another popular option for online teachers. They provide a more diffuse light than desk lamps, which can be beneficial if you’re using a lot of props or visuals in your class.
Plus, they’re relatively easy to set up and take down. The downside to floor lamps is that they can be a bit more expensive than desk lamps.
Natural light
Natural light is the best type of lighting for online teaching. It’s bright, diffused, and best of all, free! The downside to natural light is that it can be a bit unpredictable.
If you’re teaching in the morning, you may need to open the blinds to let in enough light. However, if you’re teaching in the afternoon, you may need to close the blinds to avoid glare on your computer screen.
LED lights
LED lights are a great option for online teachers. They’re relatively inexpensive, easy to set up, and best of all, they provide a bright, even light.
The downside to LED lights is that they can be a bit harsh, so you may want to use a diffuser if you go this route.
Tricks to Getting the Best Lighting for Online Teaching
Now that you know some of the best lighting options for online teaching, here are a few tips to help you get the best lighting for your needs:
✔️ Use white light: White light is the best type of light for online teaching. It’s bright and even, which makes it easy for your students to see you and anything else in the room.
✔️ Lights that light your face: When choosing lights for online teaching, make sure to choose ones that will light your face.
This is important because your students need to be able to see your expressions in order to understand what you’re saying.
✔️ Position the lights correctly: The position of your lights is also important. You’ll want to position them so that they create a balance of light and shadow in your workspace. This will help to prevent any glare on your computer screen.
✔️ Balance the lighting: When setting up your lights, be sure to balance the amount of light between the different areas of your room. You don’t want one area to be too bright while another is too dark.
By following these tips, you’ll be able to get the best lighting for online teaching. This will help to ensure that your students can see you and anything else in the room, which is essential for effective communication.
Another benefit is that it will help to create a more professional appearance for your online classroom.
How to Check Your Existing Lighting Setup
Before you start shopping for the best lighting for online teaching, you should check to see what you actually need first. There’s no reason to invest in extra bells and whistles (and lights) that you don’t really have to have.
Turn on all the lights in the room where you teach online during the time(s) of the day that you work with students. Then, turn on your webcam and see your actual video lighting.
This will tell you where the shadows are in your online classroom. Make any necessary adjustments, like changing the angle of your desk lamp or fully opening window shades.
Once you see what lighting you have available at the time(s) you need, you can make a list of what types of lighting options you need to buy, if any.
Conclusion: Best Lighting for Online Teaching
Whether you are an online ESL teacher or focused on other content, your students need to see you when you teach.
In addition, if you work for a remote learning company, they often review you based on your teaching atmosphere. This includes your lighting arrangement.
Having the best lighting for online teaching ensures that your students can see you and that your remote learning company is more likely to give you high marks for your teaching setup.
There are a few different lighting options that are perfect for online teaching. These include softbox light kits, full-size ring lights, and desk lamps with a white shade.
No matter what best lighting for online teaching you choose, make sure that it’s positioned in a way that won’t create any harsh shadows on your face. And try to position the light so that it’s not directly in your eyes.
By following these tips, you can be sure that you have the best lighting for online teaching.
Related Reading:
10 Best Headsets for Online Teaching
What is the Best Microphone for Online Teaching? + How to Choose One
The Ultimate Work From Home Office Checklist
