In recent years, there have been a number of studies detailing the influence that a schools building has on students, that is, the way in which the environment can enhance or interfere with the learning process. We see that, among other things, excessively noisy conditions can impact a student’s health, the way they think and their overall academic performance.
Whether employing the conventional teaching methods or a more dynamic and collaborative method, having the right noise levels in the classroom is important. ‘Noise’ influences a teacher’s ability to impart knowledge and a students ability to learn. A study that investigated the impacts of classroom noise pollution on academic achievement found that noise in the classroom above 41 dB began negatively affecting test results. For example, a research team in France found that for every 10 dB increase in noise pollution, 8-9 year-old students performed 5.5 points lower on their national standardised test.
To improve the noisy conditions of the classroom, we have to design learning environments with products that help to absorb and control the sound.
