You can get a lot done in Educational Technology with just the gear you have, but a little investment goes a long way. In my case, I made a large investment, one piece at a time, over a long time, and I’ll list my own gear and my own experiences below if you are interested.
Disclaimer
Some links below are affiliate links, which means that if you click on the links and make a purchase, I may get a commission (at no cost to you). I only link to products I own or have used and would recommend. My recommendations are entirely based on my experience.
Elgato Stream Deck
The Stream Deck is absolutely transformative for my workflow, both in teaching and in other activities. I started with the standard 15 key model, and then graduated to the 32 key model. I use it on all platforms: Windows, MacOSX and Linux.
Stream Deck XL
Stream Deck XL
Find on AmazonThis is my main Stream Deck. 32 customizable keys, works on every platform (even Linux, with open-source software!) and fits in every workflow.
My teleprompter setup
Desview T3 teleprompter
Neewer F100 7″ camera monitor
Lilliput A11 10.1″ camera monitor
Orei 4K seamless HDMI switch
Orei 4 in 1 our seamless HDMI switch
Audio (mics, interface, speakers, and headphones)
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen
Shure MV7 USB microphone
Shure MV7 USB
Disclaimer: I don’t own this mic. However, not everyone wants to go overboard on gear like I have. The Shure SM7B is a legendary dynamic broadcast/podcast microphone. The Shure MV7 is designed to approach the sound of an SM7B without requiring a separate audio interface. It’s clearly not as good as an SM7B, but it is very warm and natural-sounding compared to many other entry-level desktop microphone
Earthworks Ethos condenser mic
Bubblebee Sidekick 2 earpiece
I really, really dislike the look of huge headsets on live streamers. The goal of remote sessions is to be hear and be heard: invisible earpieces like the Sidekick do the job without changing your natural look.
KRK Rockit G5 R4 studio monitors (pair)
The perfect speaker pair
Sennheiser MKH 416 shotgun microphone
This used to be my main mic, and is still the mic I use if I don’t want a mic in the frame. However, my usual recording space is quite small, and the fan noise is often picked up by this superb mic, so I wanted something with a more localised pickup pattern
Lighting
Dazzne D50 desk lights
I’ve used these lights for a year, and they are cheaper than Elgato lights. They work well most of the time, but once in a while one of the lights will become very bright and towards the red end of the spectrum. caveat emptor
Hue Play lights
These are really fun and versatile and can be controlled from the Stream Deck. I linked to the Starter Kit because a Phillips Hue Hub is required
Connectivity
Elgato Cam Link 4K
Elgato Cam Link Pro
BlackMagic Decklink Quad HDMI
BlackMagic Decklink
Quad HDMI capture card
Cameras and lenses
I don’t know much about photography or videography, but I liked the auto-focus on the Sony alpha series, and I liked the smaller factor and lower prices of APS-C instead of full frame. So I am firmly in the Sony APS-C camp, with three mirrorless cameras and a mix of lenses. Delighted with the ecosystem.
Sony Alpha A6600
Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens
Sony Alpha A6500
I use this for my overhead camera