The relationship between noise levels and academic performance is well documented – so much so that it’s recognized by LEED building certifications. Schools can earn points for classrooms with sound levels below 40dB, which are then used to qualify the school for different levels of certification, and in some instances, financial grants.
But in many classrooms, sound levels average 65dB (Oberdorster and Tiesler, 2005), which can make a big difference to students’ engagement with their learning, and in turn their academic performance. So today I’m looking at 4 ways you can improve classroom acoustics.