How was your classroom arranged this last school year? How did the arrangement affect your instructional practice? How did it affect student learning? Do you think having an audio system might have made a positive difference for everyone in the classroom?
The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends 3 feet spacing between students which can create challenges with communication between teacher and student, especially if the teacher spends most of the time at the front of the room. This can also decrease the number of opportunities that students are able to fully participate in class discussions, especially if masked. Before COVID-19 health and safety guidelines, studies showed that students who sit in the back of classrooms miss over 25% of what their teachers say because they can’t clearly hear what is being taught at the front. The inability to clearly hear the teacher is especially challenging for young students and English language learners who are learning about the relationship between written symbols (alphabet, words) and sounds. How can a classroom audio system support student learning?
A classroom audio system can amplify sound, drowning out ambient noises in the background. Sounds from outside of the classroom such as hall traffic, students in different classes at recess, and other similar distractions can cause students to lose focus thus missing key points in a lesson. An audio system can many times decrease a student’s sensitivity to distractions because the magnified sound can catch their attention.
If teachers are wearing masks, clear sound can be transmitted via a mic so that students can hear each syllable of a word, important steps in a solution process, or questions posed to gauge comprehension. This is especially helpful for very young students and English language learners (ELLs) who are beginning their reading instruction which includes the essentials - phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. For increased learning, a teacher’s voice should be understandable for every student in the classroom.
Boxlight®, a leading education technology solutions provider, understands the importance of sound distribution in the classroom. The MimioClarity classroom audio distribution system consists of a 60-watt amplifier receiver, speakers, teacher, and student microphones. When the speakers are strategically placed in the classroom, the sound is evenly distributed so every student can hear the instruction regardless of where they are sitting in the classroom. Because sound is amplified, the teacher can use a quieter, more natural tone instead of having to strain to project their voice. The teacher mic also has programmable buttons to control MimioStudio™ classroom software, Microsoft Office, Google Classroom, and other front-of-class software on the teacher’s computer. To learn about the MimioClarity audio system, go to boxlight.com/mimioclarity.
Being able to hear what the teacher is saying is key to student learning success. When a teacher’s voice is heard and sound is amplified, student attention, active engagement, and comprehension are improved. A well-designed audio system can make a difference in successful student engagement and learning.
For more about Boxlight education technology solutions, including how we can help your school or district acquire federal relief funding to purchase MimioClarity, MimioStudio, and our other award-winning solutions, go to boxlight.com.