Noise in the Classroom / Le bruit en salle de classe
A newly released (2007) study has revealed that many classrooms have poor quality acoustics and that children are not always working in optimal classroom listening conditions. Because children primarily learn through listening, noisy classrooms can have serious effects on a child's ability to learn. Classroom acoustics are controllable by taking steps to reduce noise and reverberation. Parents must be aware of the potential effects of noisy classrooms on learning and help ensure that steps are taken to maximize their child's education. Teachers must be aware of the impact of poor classroom acoustics on their vocal health.
Les résultats d’une étude récente démontrent que l’acoustique est mauvaise dans les salles de classe et que les enfants travaillent souvent dans des conditions d’écoute en salle de classe inférieures à la norme. Comme les enfants apprennent surtout en écoutant, une salle de classe bruyante peut avoir un effet néfaste sur la capacité d’apprentissage de l’enfant. Il est possible de contrôler l’acoustique de la salle de classe en prenant des mesures pour réduire le bruit et la réverbération. Les parents doivent être conscients des effets possibles des salles de classe bruyantes sur l'apprentissage et travailler à s’assurer que des mesures sont prises pour maximiser l’éducation de leur enfant. Les enseignants doivent être conscients de l’impact d’une mauvaise acoustique en salle de classe sur la santé de leurs cordes vocales.
Recent Study of Noise IN THE Classrooms in NB Schools
October 2nd, 2007 saw one of our Board members, Rhonda Rubin, centre stage at the press conference held in Ottawa for the release of the results of her study, which was funded by the Department of Education. The study examined noise and behaviour in 60 New Brunswick classrooms and tested the hearing of more than 900 students from kindergarten to Grade 3. The study was led by Ms
Rubin, a Sackville-based speech pathologist. Joan Flagg-Williams of Atlantic Baptist University and Catherine Aquino Russell of the University of New Brunswick were the other major researchers.
When asked to summarize the findings, Ms Rubin stated that "we have terrible acoustics in our schools, and young kids that can't hear that well."
Results from a Canadian Language and Literacy Research Network study showed that one in six words is not understood by the average Grade 1 student due to excessive background noise and poor acoustics in Canadian classrooms. Rubin said that's because younger children have less developed hearing, plus they cannot fill in gaps of missing information in the same way adults can.
Schools in all nine English-speaking school districts in New Brunswick are presently looking to in-classroom amplification systems to improve acoustics in classrooms.
To hear classroom noise and for the research paper, Benefits of Sound Field Amplification in Kindergarten through Grade 3: A New Brunswick Provincial Study – go to http://www.caslpa.ca/english/resources/noise_in_classroom.asp#audio.