What did you say? Classroom Amplification Systems

Classroom amplification systems have become an essential tool in educational technology. Increasing numbers of schools have recognized how critical it is for all learners to hear all of the instruction, all of the time. These schools have chosen to install amplification systems in all classrooms to meet this essential need. A typical installed system consists of four primary components:

1. Receiver/amplifier
2. Infrared sensor
3. Infrared microphone/transmitter
4. Speakers

Classrooms can be noisy and distracting learning environments. Teachers and students have various speaking styles and hearing abilities. The amplification systems are designed to provide low volume amplification that overcomes ambient noise, clarifies the speaker’s voice and evenly distributes sound throughout the learning environment. Research over two decades is conclusive—classroom amplification systems improve academic performance and help to create an optimum learning environment. Some of the many benefits include:

• Higher composite test scores
• Improved reading and language test scores for all students at all levels
• Attention and on-task times improve
• Class interaction and participation increases
• Classroom management and transition times improve
• Student motivation and confidence increase
• Classroom stress is lowered
• Reduced throat/voice fatigue and related absenteeism
• No changes to curriculum or teaching style required

Classroom amplification is no longer deployed just for students with hearing issues. It is now widely accepted for general education classrooms and has a proven track record of benefiting all students. Proximity to the teacher’s voice is crucial to hearing and understanding the spoken word. In a traditional unamplified classroom, disinterested learners sit in the back of the classroom and easily tune out the distant teacher. Shy students afraid to ask the teacher to repeat themselves and students distracted by other activities may miss out on critical portions of the instruction. With increasing concerns about hearing loss related to the use of MP3 players, the population of hearing challenged youth appears to be growing. Research shows that 16 percent of 6- to 19-year-olds have early signs of hearing loss at the range most readily damaged by loud sounds.

With the increasing use of multimedia resources in classrooms, amplification systems are also connected to classroom audio-visual equipment (computers, DVD and VHS players, iPods, cable TV systems, etc.) to insure that all students can hear all instructional resources. In addition to enhancing teacher’s voice and multimedia resources, a second microphone is often provided to promote student participation and interaction. This provides the dual benefit of increasing student involvement in the learning process as well as insuring that student presenters can be heard by the entire class.

The ease of implementation coupled with no required changes in curriculum or teaching methods makes this instructional technology an easy choice.

For additional information regarding classroom amplification please refer to:
IMPROVING THE CLASSROOM ENVIRONMENT: CLASSROOM AMPLIFICATION SYSTEMS
drs.dadeschools.net/InfoCapsules/IC0607.pdf

CLASSROOM AMPLIFICATION SYSTEMS: Understanding and overcoming the acoustical barriers to learning
www.esd112.org/edtech/whitepapers/Sound_Amp_whitepaper.pdf

Acoustics in Educational Settings: Technical Report
www.asha.org/docs/pdf/TR2005-00042.pdf