Abstract
A recently published simulation-based study has demonstrated the effect of an individually controlled noise-reducing device (ICND) on improving acoustic quality in classrooms. As a follow-up research, this current study aims to develop a real ICND and test it with its target users-- primary school children. The prototype developed in this study looks like a canopy hanging above a desk, was selected and prototyped. It has two modes, i.e. open and closed, and can be easily changed by a remote controller. With this device, school children can control their local acoustic environment by themselves. More than 200 primary school children have been invited to test two prototypes of this device in the acoustical chamber of the SenseLab. The results showed that 83% of the children liked this device and 61% of them wanted to have it in their own classroom. However, since this is a prototype, there is still room for improvement. Based on the children’s feedback, several suggestions for future modifications have been summarized.
Highlights
In recent decades, noise perceived in classrooms of primary schools has drawn worldwide attention
According to an investigation conducted among 1145 Dutch primary school children, noise was reported to be the biggest indoor environmental problem in primary school classrooms [1], and the sound generated from children themselves and their classmates was described to be the main noise source [1,2,3]
274 random, normal visitors from all over the country participated in the survey during the 25 test days
Summary
Noise perceived in classrooms of primary schools has drawn worldwide attention. Poor acoustics in classrooms has been observed in Brazil, where the teachers and children reported noise created in their neighbouring classrooms as the main source of annoyance [4]. Apart from the research on perceived sound, many studies have been conducted including objective acoustic measurements in classrooms [4,6,7]. The measured acoustical quality in most studies rarely reached the standards set for primary schools around the world. In a study conducted in 26 classrooms of seven schools in Medellin, Colombia, none of these classrooms met the related acoustic requirements [8].
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