Classroom design

24 Dec 2020 |

Furniture for today’s classroom

Today’s learning environments are evolving to keep up with the changing environment and technological advancements. All the new-age schools require classrooms that foster collaboration and creativity among learners.

More and more schools are integrating technology in the classroom but this also means classrooms must now be equipped with specialized furniture to accommodate the changes.

Here are a few furniture ideas for today’s classroom that will provide an ideal learning environment for learners to thrive and grow.

Collaborative & Flexible Furniture

Traditional classrooms are equipped with static desks and chairs all facing the same direction. There is also a blackboard placed behind the teacher’s desk. Classrooms with this type of layout aren’t ideal for group activities. It makes it tedious and time-consuming to arrange desks and chairs for group interactions.

Today, collaboration is crucial in a learning environment. In the future, when learners apply for jobs they’ll be expected to be able to work in variable teams. Working collaboratively in school will help a child interact, communicate, and find solutions to problems while working with others.

By making them modular, the desks can be used for variable sized groups and for multiple applications. Collaborative furniture such as light movable desks, desks, and chairs with wheels, integrated with power outlets, and round tables. Schools can implement modular adjustable desks with comfortable seating. This will create learning experiences suited to their tasks or projects.

Tech Integrated Furniture

School curriculums are changing to adapt to the changing technological needs. Due to the pandemic, remote learning has proven to be accessible for all learners. Now, through laptops/tablets/computers classes can be accessed and through interactive software, homework can be submitted.

To prepare learners for the future, classrooms need to be technologically integrated. Tech-integrated furniture will help learners explore new avenues of learning with a better engagement of learners. Multimedia tables, desks with power outlets, etc can easily integrate with tech learning solutions. Storage cupboards with charging docks.

Engaging Furniture for Learners

When learners spend most of their time sitting on static desks and chairs in the classroom, chances are that they have very little interaction and engagement. But studies have shown that new-age schools that have adopted flexible furniture, have shown a positive impact on learners’ overall engagement, creativity, and motivation. Learners need classrooms that inspire them, help them express, share ideas, and be comfortable enough to stay attentive throughout the day.

Engaging furniture such as soft seating, cushions, mobile chairs, and niche seating creates, portable boards and storage units, can make the classroom experience more engaging.

1 Dec 2020 |

Canteen Conversations: Acoustic Solutions for Schools

Students often look forward to their break-time in school because of various reasons. Firstly, as they can meet their friends across various grades and chat over their favorite cartoon/movie episodes and also fill their tummies with some amazing food.

Break time also acts like beating the monotony for them. As they are other times much involved in academic learning.

The same is the case with the teachers. In their break time, they too require a rejuvenating experience.

Studies have also shown that to savor food completely & for better digestion, one’s five senses must be completely present while having food, namely:

Sight
Smell
Touch
Taste
Sound

Notably, Sound also is a very important sense while savoring a meal to the fullest. From the sound of breaking bread to chewing, swallowing, etc. contributes to this sense. These may be also termed as natural sounds while eating. The problem arises when the natural sounds are suppressed by the unnatural sounds, which is in turn the noise created in the room by poor acoustic treatment.

The underlying question still remains- Are students & teachers really able to get the best out of this break time?

In most cases, the answer sadly remains No. The reason being canteens/cafeterias have high sound pressure levels. The major factors that contribute to the noise are:

A large no of students talking with each other
Cutlery/tiffin/table/chair noise
Fan/AC noise etc

As far as it goes, one may have very little control over the factors that contribute to the noise. But surely the environment can be altered in a way that will reduce the sound pressure level. Most of the time canteen spaces are not prioritized in having good acoustics. Whereas it is one such space that needs to be really thought well off when it comes to acoustics.

The solution is not that complex – Install complete wall-to-wall high absorbing Class A acoustic ceilings and cladding at least 20% of the floor area with acoustic wall panels on any of the nearest wall surfaces, if feasible. Class A sound-absorbing systems will absorb about 90% of the sound that would hit on the material, thereby ensuring reduced echo and noise.

The results of which will be:

Lower stress levels in teachers/students
Higher productivity
Enjoying the meal without high background noise

There is less weightage provided to acoustics, currently in the Indian market. In most cases, stakeholders aren’t aware that there is a solution to the problem of noise and it isn’t too complicated either. While auditoriums, classrooms, and other areas have their own importance, the canteen/ cafeteria spaces cannot be neglected for sure!

The high NRC acoustic solutions by Ecophon can help transform a noisy room into a much calmer one. Acoustics contribute to a better working environment where people work and communicate.

To know more log on to: –

www.ecophon.in

Harshal Kolwankar
(Concept Development Manager)
Ecophon Group

About Ecophon Group:

Ecophon Group develops, manufactures, and markets acoustic products and systems for ceilings and walls. Used all over the world, they meet the growing demand for good acoustics with a focus on offices, education, and health care premises. Ecophon contributes to a better working environment— wherever people work and communicate. The company is based in Sweden & it’s a part of the global Saint-Gobain.
Group www.ecophon.in

14 Jan 2020 |

Importance of Good Acoustics in Schools

Good Acoustics

conference-room When we speak, we push air from our lungs through the neck via the vocal cords, which in turn vibrate and create sound. The sound continues on via the nasal cavity and oral cavity, creating sound waves that are released into the room. These sound waves are received by someone’s ears via the outer ear to the inner ear, where they are converted into electrical impulses. These continue to the brain, where the receiver hears. What is heard is not just a voice, however, but also what the room does to the voice of the sender. If the speech is interesting, the receiver hopefully starts listening, and if the acoustical conditions around the speaker are good, you are likely to remember more of what is said.

The cost of noise in education – listening and retaining information

Noise creates a great cost in terms of education. A study found that German classrooms have an average sound level of 65 dB, which is high. If you view teaching as watering the garden, poor acoustics means that some of the water evaporates rather than gets received by the flowers. Listening becomes a challenge, and teachers and students need to repeat themselves to get heard and listened to. The fact that humans are not great listeners from the beginning makes it more difficult – we usually only retain 25% of what someone says.

What is a sound classroom environment?

Teachers and students have three wishes in relation to sound and noise in classrooms. They want:

Better speech perception. This is affected by the speaker’s voice and listener’s ears – and by the room acoustics. Good acoustics means that the voice can easily reach the listening ears, as the sound waves are direct and only pass the ears once; like they do in an outside environment. If you cannot go outside to teach, you can still optimise the internal environment to have improved acoustics. For example, you can place a bookcase in the classroom, fill it with binders, and then remove every other cover. This creates a diffusion effect similar to the one in the forest.
Better speaker comfort. Insert something that reflects sound above the speaker so he or she can hear and know that what is said can be heard by the receivers.
Less noise You cannot force children to be quiet, but by providing the right acoustic conditions in which to listen and learn, the teacher can focus on what matters: teaching.

Acoustic strategies – Five aspects you need to know

You need an understanding of the following five aspects to be able to create a good acoustic environment:

What teaching method is used
What technical devices are used
What the building and rooms look like
How the room is decorated
Knowledge about the impact of noise on humans

The proof – The Essex Study

https://www.ecophon.com/en/knowledge/essex-study—good-acoustics-enable-effective-group-work-in-classrooms/

The Essex study (2012) stresses the importance of good acoustics in schools. The results showed that having acoustically treated rooms leads to:

Less vocal effort needed from teacher
Lower overall noise level (primarily for those with hearing impairment, but the situation was improved for all students)
Better signal/noise ratio
Better behaviour (students becoming quieter and behaving differently)
Better teaching and learning possibilities

Harshal Kolwankar
(Concept Development Manager) – Ecophon Group
Email: Harshal.kolwankar@saint-gobain.com
Contact No- +91 9869138449

https://www.acousticbulletin.com/

About Ecophon Group:

Ecophon Group develops, manufactures and markets acoustic products and systems for ceilings and walls. Used all over the world, our solutions meet the growing demand for good acoustics with the focus on offices, education, and health care premises. Ecophon contributes to a better working environment— wherever people work and communicate. The company is based in Sweden & it’s a part of the global Saint-Gobain Group www.ecophon.in