Education

Whether it’s a primary classroom, a high school, university or TAFE, the student needs to be able to hear and understand others to learn. A noisy room can make this hard.

Noise in a classroom predominantly comes from other students talking, but also relates to the acoustic design of the space. Soft furnishings will quieten a room, while hard surfaces will accentuate any noise that is made.

Background noise caused by vehicles outside of the school, lawnmowers, other people in the hallways or outside, heating or air conditioning units, or printers and devices can also can make it harder to hear. As does a long reverberation time – when soundwaves bounce off desks, walls and hard surfaces, and stay in the room for a long time.

Poor acoustics in a classroom can cause many problems with how a student learns, and enjoys their lessons. Poor acoustics can make it hard for a student to understand speech, read and spell, pay attention and concentrate, succeed in lessons, and can also affect how a student behaves.  Excess noise in a learning environment causes stress, discomfort, headaches and illness, while also making it more difficult for the student to achieve and succeed.

For this reason, it is important to make a classroom quieter for all students. Avenue Interior Systems understands the importance of acoustics in a classroom, and how the acoustic design of a classroom should facilitate rather than hinder learning, and should create a peaceful environment where it is easier for a student to thrive.

Teachers also struggle in a noisy classroom. Studies show teachers use their voices for about 60% of their workday. Talking in a loud classroom, and raising their voice to be heard over other noises can strain a teacher’s voice which can cause voice problems.

Avenue Interior Systems range of absorptive products are specified or retrofitted into many educational spaces, to improve acoustics to a level that is optimal for a learning environment – assisting both the teacher to teach and the learner to learn, without distraction, discomfort and noise-related stress and illness.