Acoustics
Feb 1, 2009 12:00 PM, By Mike Kennedy (mkennedy@asumag.com)
Some schools use amplification to boost a teacher's voice, but acoustics advocates say such systems should be a last resort.
Before resorting to amplification, the ASA states, education institutions should design new or renovated classrooms to conform with the acoustics standards developed by the American National Standards Institute. Those standards state that the maximum background noise in an unoccupied classroom should be 35 decibels.
"Background sound levels of 35 decibels or less ensure the 15-decibel signal-to-noise ratio needed for effective learning," the ASA says.
The New Zealand guide agrees that amplification systems should be a last resort.
"Teacher's voice-amplification systems … are not a substitute for good acoustical design and should be used only when all other options have failed," the guide recommends.
Notable
35
In decibels, the recommended maximum background noise level in an unoccupied classroom.
15
In decibels, the recommended signal-to-noise ratio needed in a classroom to allow for effective learning.
Source: Acoustical Society of America
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