When we speak, we push air from our lungs, which continues up through the neck via the vocal chords, 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 […]
classroom acoustics
Sound and school design from three architects’ point-of-view
In this post, we have collated three architects’ views on the role of sound in designing school buildings. The listening architect Architects focus on sight, as this has been quoted by giants such as Aristotle, Vitruvius, Palladio and Corbusier as “the noblest of all arts”. In other words, sight has been perceived by many as the […]
Inclusive acoustic learning environment appreciated by the whole class!
Following a great response a few years ago after doing lectures about acoustics in learning environments at Comfort Audio’s four Academies in Denmark, Mai-Britt Beldam and Comfort Audio decided to do a project together – to find out what would happen if optimum room acoustics is combined with great hearing products for kids with hearing […]
EIAS2015 special: Why use acoustic regulations, standards and guidelines?
When designing for good acoustics, how do you make sure you follow the rules and demands of a certain space? You will (at least) have to look at: The requirements = What you are trying to achieve acoustically. The legal standards, the building regulations and guidelines = The way this is going to be achieved. […]
Our acoustics podcast Episode Two – A Sound Education
Shane Cryer, Concept Developer Educational Environments at Ecophon UK & Ireland and Russell Richardson, Director at RBA Acoustics and the Institute of Acoustics Council’s Honorary Secretary with Salma Cranfield the presenter. Episode Two – A Sound Education That good acoustics in schools and higher education institutions is vital, should not be much of a surprise to Acoustic […]
Teachers overrepresented in the waiting rooms of voice clinics
Viveka Lyberg Åhlander a PhD in Medical Sciences/ Logopedics at EIAS2015 Vocal stress is an increasing issue in schools Viveka Lyberg Åhlander of Lund University is an expert in speech-language pathology and has worked a lot with people with voice problems. During her work, she noticed that quite a few of the people she helped were teachers. […]
Spreading the message about how to apply the new school acoustic standard
In April this year, Shane Cryer – Educational Environments Concept Developer continued Ecophon’s BB93 roadshows with a case study visit to the newly opened City of Glasgow College Riverside Campus, to highlight the importance of acoustics in education. This £66m campus, accommodating 2000 students, is just part of the overall £228m scheme to replace 11 […]
How to transform unnecessary “waiting time” to valuable teaching time
In short, (you guessed it!) by improving acoustics A masters thesis from last year by Petra Lagerberg and Sebastian Holm at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm KTH examined if an improved acoustic environment in schools can have positive socio-economic effects. Their study shows that an improved sound environment makes classes more efficient and that the total […]
A sound environment for learning – is a must have!
NBCS Sydney Focusing on learning rather than teaching, changes almost everything we know about a school set up and organization but it is not an easy change. By Mie Guldbaek Broens, LOOP.bz I work with observing, studying and developing educational environments that are changing from a system where predominantly teaching is taking place, to an organisation […]
Kids with special needs need more than acoustic standards
Intervention study about behaviour and acoustics In January 2015 Ecophon and LOOP.bz started an intervention study at Søgårdsskolen in Gentofte municipality in Denmark. This school is a public school for kids with social cognitive challenges and learning disabilities (ADHD, autism, brain damage, Downs and others). With this group of children it is not possible to […]
