In 2006, the Australian Journal of Education published a study by Robyn Massie and Harvey Dillon National Acoustic Laboratories about the impact of technology in learning spaces that captures and distributes teacher and learner voice in learning spaces.
This technology – mostly known as Soundfield – was tested in 4 classrooms to determine its impact.
While the study offers the view that this technology is supported by other research over two decades, it offers some interesting conclusions including:
• Adopting soundfield with a second microphone for use by learners allows for easier intelligibility of words spoken by learners given their voices were naturally softer and boosted the confidence of children to offer their opinions in class.
• Teachers repeated their view – in fact 92% of teachers – that strain in their voices reduced. And most teachers felt less fatigued at the end of the day.
• The study concluded that evidence in convincing that listening and learning is enhanced with soundfield technology.
Hear and Learn supplies soundfield technology Australia wide with the smallest and lightest teacher microphones in the market, and will solutions that are free from ligature risk.