EDMOND — Edmond elementary students and teachers are tapping into surround-sound technology that makes even the humblest voice thunder with authority.
“There is research that shows classrooms that have a way of projecting the teachers voice have gained academically,” said Lynne Rowley, Edmond’s director of elementary education.
Thanks to a grant on early intervention from the State Department of Education Edmond’s elementary schools are using wireless systems to make the sound of voices more prominent.
Rowley said thanks to the Red Cat system used in Edmond’s elementary classrooms, all words are crisp and even.
“There are several advantages to the system, one of which means there are no dead spots in the classroom regardless of where a child is sitting they can hear the teacher,” she said. “A second advantage is it does have a fuller or richer tone.”
Research studies have shown that this type of sound system, originally used only for hearing-impaired students or students learning English, boost test scores and keep students from misbehaving by allowing everyone in class a chance to hear and speak.
“When a speaker is not amplified your mind begins to wander off,” said Nancy Goosen, director of special services. “A study shows there are 50 to 65 decibels of background noise all the time in an elementary classroom.”
A committee looked at a variety of curriculum and different programs to buy with the federal dollars and came up with the idea of a sound system, Goosen said. “It would be nothing new and we could still increase test scores, help with attention. We really felt this was going to impact our kids.”
Clegern Elementary was the first school to use the Red Cat system thanks to money raised by the school’s PTO.
“After we studied various forms of intervention and what would have the most benefit, we chose to go with the soundfield system,” Rowley said.
A classroom amplification system includes speakers that can be mounted on the walls or in the ceiling, a receiver/amplifier and microphones. The mics are wireless and worn around the teacher’s neck like a pendant.
Additional hand-held microphones can be used for students to pass around when answering questions.
jwilliams@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 108
THE DETAILS
what you need to know
Multiple studies agree that classroom amplification is a proven and powerful tool that provides all children with a much-improved opportunity to listen and learn.
Classroom amplification systems:
Overcome the effects of high ambient noise levels.
Improve attention and on-task times.
Increase class interaction and participation.
Improve student achievement and academic test scores.
Reduce behavioral problems.
Improve word recognition in English Language Learner students.
SOURCE: eSchoolnews.com
Education
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JOHN A. WILLIAMS
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Edmond’s elementary schools using wireless systems in classrooms
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