Acoustic measurements based on a soundscape analysis in an open-plan classroom in a primary school

Abstract

It is critical to fully understand the acoustic environment in open plan classrooms because there is a current increasing popularity of a new type of classrooms and because it has been reported that the open plan classroom has a serious problem of noise. Since the architectural features of the open plan classrooms are different from those of traditional classrooms, traditional measurement methods are not sufficient to investigate the new type of classrooms. In this study, a new type of open-plan classroom combined with small classrooms is examined with soundscape approaches. Acoustical events occurring in the open-plan classroom in a primary school were analyzed, and the activities that created the specific acoustical events were observed using methods of soundwalks, focus group discussions, and narrative interviews. Also acoustic measurements were conducted with measurement sets from soundscape analysis and from traditional methods in the building. The results of measurements were compared to determine the differences in the effects of measurement methods on the acoustical events in open plan classrooms. The study found that the results of the acoustical measurements based on soundscape analysis are different from those of traditional measurement methods. The differences among the measurement sets demonstrate that it is useful to use soundscape analyze to understand open plan classrooms.