Abstract
Open plan classrooms, where several class bases share the same space, have recently re-emerged in Australian primary schools. This study compared the acoustics of four different Kindergarten classrooms: an enclosed classroom with 25 students, a double classroom with 44 students, a linear fully open plan triple classroom with 91 students, and a semi-open plan K-6 classroom with 205 students. Ambient noise levels, intrusive noise levels, occupied background noise levels, and teacher's speech levels were recorded during different activities. Room impulse responses using logarithmic sweeps were also recorded for different teaching scenarios. From these recordings, signal-to-noise ratios, speech transmission index scores, and reverberation times were calculated. The results revealed much higher intrusive noise levels in the two largest open plan classrooms, resulting in signal-to-noise ratios and speech transmission index scores to be well below those recommended in classrooms with students of this age. Additionally, occupied background noise levels in all classrooms were well above recommended levels. These results suggest noise in classrooms needs to be better controlled, and open plan classrooms are unlikely to be appropriate learning environments for young children due to their high intrusive noise levels. The impact of noise on children's learning and teacher's vocal health are discussed.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 95-105 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Applied Acoustics |
| Volume | 100 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 15 Dec 2015 |
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Investigating the acoustics of a sample of open plan and enclosed Kindergarten classrooms in Australia. / Mealings, Kiri T.; Buchholz, Jörg M.; Demuth, Katherine; Dillon, Harvey.
In: Applied Acoustics, Vol. 100, 15.12.2015, p. 95-105.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the acoustics of a sample of open plan and enclosed Kindergarten classrooms in Australia
AU - Mealings, Kiri T.
AU - Buchholz, Jörg M.
AU - Demuth, Katherine
AU - Dillon, Harvey
PY - 2015/12/15
Y1 - 2015/12/15
N2 - Open plan classrooms, where several class bases share the same space, have recently re-emerged in Australian primary schools. This study compared the acoustics of four different Kindergarten classrooms: an enclosed classroom with 25 students, a double classroom with 44 students, a linear fully open plan triple classroom with 91 students, and a semi-open plan K-6 classroom with 205 students. Ambient noise levels, intrusive noise levels, occupied background noise levels, and teacher's speech levels were recorded during different activities. Room impulse responses using logarithmic sweeps were also recorded for different teaching scenarios. From these recordings, signal-to-noise ratios, speech transmission index scores, and reverberation times were calculated. The results revealed much higher intrusive noise levels in the two largest open plan classrooms, resulting in signal-to-noise ratios and speech transmission index scores to be well below those recommended in classrooms with students of this age. Additionally, occupied background noise levels in all classrooms were well above recommended levels. These results suggest noise in classrooms needs to be better controlled, and open plan classrooms are unlikely to be appropriate learning environments for young children due to their high intrusive noise levels. The impact of noise on children's learning and teacher's vocal health are discussed.
AB - Open plan classrooms, where several class bases share the same space, have recently re-emerged in Australian primary schools. This study compared the acoustics of four different Kindergarten classrooms: an enclosed classroom with 25 students, a double classroom with 44 students, a linear fully open plan triple classroom with 91 students, and a semi-open plan K-6 classroom with 205 students. Ambient noise levels, intrusive noise levels, occupied background noise levels, and teacher's speech levels were recorded during different activities. Room impulse responses using logarithmic sweeps were also recorded for different teaching scenarios. From these recordings, signal-to-noise ratios, speech transmission index scores, and reverberation times were calculated. The results revealed much higher intrusive noise levels in the two largest open plan classrooms, resulting in signal-to-noise ratios and speech transmission index scores to be well below those recommended in classrooms with students of this age. Additionally, occupied background noise levels in all classrooms were well above recommended levels. These results suggest noise in classrooms needs to be better controlled, and open plan classrooms are unlikely to be appropriate learning environments for young children due to their high intrusive noise levels. The impact of noise on children's learning and teacher's vocal health are discussed.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84941992505&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apacoust.2015.07.009
DO - 10.1016/j.apacoust.2015.07.009
M3 - Article
VL - 100
SP - 95
EP - 105
JO - Applied Acoustics
T2 - Applied Acoustics
JF - Applied Acoustics
SN - 0003-682X
ER -