When Hear and Learn was created more than 10 years ago, it’s fair to say we didn’t fully foresee all the benefits of our technology. We knew teachers’ primary tool of the trade – the voice – was respected by HR and OHS people, but more importance is being attached to teacher voice care.
An Australian State Department has issued guidelines which attach significant importance to this issue, and offer ways to help. Compounded by new strategies relevant to agile learning spaces, differentiated learning, these guidelines reflect how capturing voices and distributing them well is a technique gaining more momentum.
Some interesting grabs:
“Talking extensively, talking loudly, speaking over background noise, and speaking and projecting your voice over large distances” are issues which mean “teachers are at increased risk for developing voice problems”. Some frequent examples of such situations are ” speaking over large distances without effective amplification” and ” speaking to large groups without effective amplification”.
” Use an amplifier” where possible and ensure that you understand good microphone technique”
“Work with the school leadership team to achieve environmental improvements such as purchase of portable amplifiers for employees”.
Hear and Learn Hubs achieve better outcomes for teachers. Feedback from a teacher in WA recently states:
“I love that I can now use my voice differently using this system. I did not realise how much effort using my voice in a noisy classroom used until I didn’t have to use it anymore. The children are quicker to respond as they can always hear me, which will have a direct impact on their learning and understandings. I now tend to speak in a more grammatically correct way as I am very conscious of how I am heard by the class and in turn I put a lot more thought into what I say and how I say it, which I believe will have a positive influence in my students learning.”
Teacher voice care! Something to think about ….