New Sound Field improves engagement, lifts grades
L-R P&C Treasurer Rebekah Kurnow, Sundale Community Foundation’s Alexander Upton, Mapleton State School teacher, Fiona Longhurst, and Lauren Scherian and collegue from Ken Mills Toyota.
Students at Mapleton State School received a welcome funding boost of $5,000 from the Nambour Community Foundation and Ken Mills Toyota, which has been used to purchase and install sound fields for the classrooms.
“Already we have seen an improvement in the engagement of kids in the classroom, and their academic results,” said P&C President, Elissa Bartholomew.
Sound fields are essentially mini public address systems for classrooms. They are designed to address common issues like background noise and the distance between the speaker and the listener, which can hinder effective communication in a classroom setting.
“The teacher wears a microphone which transmits their voice wirelessly to one or more loudspeakers strategically placed around the room,” Elissa said. “The loudspeakers then amplify and distribute the sound, ensuring it reaches all students at a consistent level. So it doesn’t matter where a child is sitting, they are able to more clearly hear the teacher.
“Sound field systems are particularly beneficial for students with hearing loss or auditory processing difficulties, but they can improve the learning environment for all students because when students can hear clearly, they are more likely to stay engaged and focused on the lesson. And we know that improved audibility and comprehension can lead to better academic performance. We have already seen this happen in our own school,” she said.
“We would like to extend a huge thank you to the Nambour Community Foundation and Brett Mills of Ken Mills Toyota. It is just wonderful that children with hearing issues don’t have to be singled out and treated differently to their peers.”