AV Technology - May 2008 - (Page 38)

Enhancing Audio in the Classroom CLASSROOM AUDIO IT’S GOOD SCIENCE It isn’t only teachers and IT/AV managers who are interested in improving audio in the classroom. In Tucson, AZ, 9-year-old Andrew Carroll became interested in enhanced classroom audio and decided to make it a science fair project for his 4th grade class. Listen Technologies loaned equipment to Andrew, who set it up in two different classrooms at his school. The audio systems were used for reading and listening comprehension in one class and for a math lesson in the other class. His results were eye-catching: In the math lesson, the 21 students in the class improved their scores on tests significantly, scoring an average of 83 percent, while 21 students in a non-enhanced classroom only scored 69 percent. He also noted an improvement in test scores for the listening comprehension lesson. “Audio enhancing equipment helps students to perform better at listening and math,” Andrew concludes. “I saw more students working harder. The teacher’s voice was much easier to hear. Both students and teachers liked having an audioenhanced classroom. I think that our school would benefit from this equipment, and score better on tests. I think it will help students to pay attention.” microphones and transmitters, two access points for receiving the signals, a ceilingmounted projector, four ceiling-mounted loudspeakers, and an audio amplifier. The teacher’s computer is used as a source for the projector for DVDs, internet media, etc. “An interesting aspect of this project is that the teachers need to decide how the classroom is going to be oriented before we begin,” Henderson notes. “Rather than being able to move the desks around and change the front of the room constantly, they have to be oriented in the same direction from here on.” Each classroom installation includes four ceiling-mounted loudspeakers to provide uniform audio coverage and a ceiling-mounted Hitachi projector. Receivers for the Front Row soundfield system are placed in strategic locations to pick up the teacher’s microphone as he/she moves around the room. Henderson also says many of the installations require electrical retrofitting to accommodate the new technologies. “Classroom amplification makes an academic difference,” says Audio Enhancement’s Dobson. “It reduces or eliminates the effects of noise, distance, and reverberation. All students can hear the teacher and each other all the time. If we are able to communicate, we are more able to learn. We need to do all we can to make certain that every child has a maximum opportunity to hear.” Elaine Jones operates a PR agency specializing in the AV industry and is based in Salt Lake City, UT. She can be reached at elaine@ejonespr.com. • Easy-to-Use • Flexible • Secure • Great Sound • No Wires • Rechargeable Not just for Board Rooms anymore! ing duc tro In Plug and Play Wireless Microphone Solution See the Revolabs Fusion System at InfoComm 2008 Revolabs All conference rooms deserve great audio! Revolabs Wireless Microphones 38 | AV TECHNOLOGY | may 2008 Booth #C4163 Revolabs, Inc. 63 Great Road, Maynard, MA 01754 Phone: 978-897-5655 Toll-free: 800-326-1088 Fax: 978-897-5616 E-mail: info@revolabs.com www.revolabs.com Learn more at www.revolabs.com http://thesextantgroup.com http://www.revolabs.com http://www.revolabs.com http://www.revolabs.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of AV Technology - May 2008

AV Technology - May 2008 Contents Precedent Corporate: How to Qualify an AV Supplier Education: Working Smarter AV Technology's Guide to Networked AV Government: IPv6 — Why You Should Care Calculating ROI on Your Digital Signage Investment Enhancing Audio in the Classroom Minimizing Equipment Theft Smart AV The Tribe Has Spoken AV Enables Interactive Research AV Image Enhancement Product Spotlight Tech Horizons Product Review New Products AV MO

AV Technology - May 2008

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