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The impact of noise on college and university students

How disruptions affect learning and health

We have discovered throughout this series how noise impacts teachers and the learning abilities of younger students. Yet it’s important to note that noise doesn’t discriminate according to age – too much noise in colleges and universities will impact lecturers and tertiary students too.

Wherever students are on their learning journey – whether it’s primary, secondary or tertiary studies – too much noise will create a negative learning environment. Where older students differ from primary students is that they can decide to remove themselves from a noisy situation, choosing not to attend lectures and tutorials and instead taking responsibility for learning the criteria themselves.

Yet choosing to self-educate can lead to negative results. Students may not pass the course thanks to missing vital information that is only available in a lecture or tutorial environment.

That’s why it’s so important to address the causes of noise in tertiary education, and consider custom noise control solutions.

Typical noise distractions in education

These days nearly everyone has a smart device of some kind. These devices are an excellent communication tool, yet they undoubtedly increase distractions and noise, both within and outside of the classroom.

Smart devices are not the only noise disruption which occurs outside the classroom. Other distractions may include the groundskeeper mowing, edging or leaf blowing; other students laughing and talking as they pass by the classroom; or music escaping from music rooms. Any or all of these may contribute to the noise distraction for students in a learning environment.

We know that if people of any age get disrupted, it can be hard – or sometimes impossible! – to regain their attention. That’s why in a learning environment, distractions can impact students’ learning ability and how well they perform in their studies.

Even more seriously, in some learning environments – such as in music facilities or tech workshops – teachers and students can be exposed to high noise levels that are well above legal limits. This level of noise can permanently damage hearing.

All of this underlines the need for learning environments to be properly soundproofed from excessive noise and distractions.

Talk to Avenue about soundproofing solutions for education

The correct application of acoustic treatment in classrooms and lecture theatres can reduce the impacts of occupational noise and distractions due to noise.