Students’ learning in a classroom takes place to a very high degree through hearing. Therefore, it is important to achieve an acceptable sound level so that you as a teacher and your students can enjoy and concentrate for a longer period of time.
I started looking for information on how to minimize loud noises in a classroom most simply. I will here share my experiences and how I have worked with this problem. My conclusion is that it is possible to do quite a lot with small means.
Other than reading notes, hearing a teacher explain their lessons face-to-face greatly facilitates a student’s learning in the classroom. However, some external noises may increase the classroom’s sound level. Whether it’s the ongoing construction works or the traffic buzz nearby, high sound levels in
class make learning more difficult as students struggle to hear and understand what is being said. This translates to a greater lack of concentration, stress, and fatigue, eventually leading to deteriorating performance.
How can I make my classroom soundproof?
Soundproofing refers to reducing or preventing outside noises from entering the room. It also keeps the sounds created inside from escaping the room.
It is crucial to reduce the noise in a classroom to an acceptable sound level so the classroom is a more pleasant area for the students to learn in and they can concentrate for a longer period of time. While soundproofing a classroom may sound challenging, it’s actually a lot easier than it seems. Here are seven relatively easy and inexpensive ways to help get you on the right track to soundproofing a classroom.
Use appropriate materials
If the classroom is not yet built, choose appropriate materials to construct the classroom. Avoid installing wooden walls, tile surfaces, or glass windows as they can create a lot of sound reflections. Instead, choose concrete or brick materials to build your walls. These are thicker and denser materials that absorb the most sounds, making a vast difference to the overall sound volume in the room.
Installing soundproofing panels or soundproof doors can also be another option. These panels and doors have excellent noise reduction capabilities. They are enhanced with thick profiles to provide better sound insulation against the outside world. As a rule of thumb, install the acoustic panels on the opposite wall of the source of sound for maximum sound absorption.
Reduce noises with a bookshelf
If constructing a new wall or installing soundproofing panels and doors is impossible, consider buying a bookshelf and filling it with books and magazines. The bookshelf, books, and magazines have mass and the mass helps to absorb sound, resist vibration, and reduce sound transmission. Getting a bookcase that extends from the floor all the way up to the ceiling makes an even bigger difference to this simple solution.
Choose upholstered furniture to use in your classroom
Generally, the heavier the furniture, the greater the sound absorption. Similar to the bookshelf, upholstered furniture adds mass to a room, which helps to dampen sounds. Adding upholstered furniture to your classroom setting prevents the sound from bouncing around and enables more sound to be absorbed. Lightweight and flat furniture pieces are unlikely to help much. If you don’t have space for more furniture, try to add thicker blankets or throw pillows. These
can reduce the effects of bombarded by the outside sounds of blaring music or passing cars.
Add a thick rug on the ground
Soundproofing the ground is just as important as soundproofing the walls. To reduce harsh reverberation effects, place sound-absorbing items like thick rugs, carpets, or mats on the ground. The woolen or synthetic fibers used to have great sound absorption qualities when woven together. These items dampen sound and absorb reflections in the classroom, creating a better learning environment. Adding a cork underlay or pad under the rug is another way to enhance its sound absorption capabilities.
Hang curtains by the window
Curtains are another fairly cheap and effective sound barrier. To keep the outside noises that can be a nuisance and a distraction to a minimum, choose soundproof, four-panel curtains made of dense and porous materials. Good materials to consider are velvets, velours, and wools. For most effective results, ensure the drapes span from the ceiling to the floor so the airflow, echoes, and reverberations are reduced as much as possible.
Fill door gaps with draft stoppers
Door gaps allow outside sound to travel inside the classroom. Draft stoppers, or door sweeps, are installed at the bottom of doors to prevent air and sound from escaping through the small gaps. Made of silicone or aluminum, they are durable and can help maximize the effects of other soundproof solutions in the classroom. You can buy draft stoppers from your local hardware stores at relatively cheap prices. Sometimes, the gap underneath your classroom door may be too large to cover with a draft stopper. You can nail a strip of lumber to the door base or place a thick rug directly underneath the door to plug the gap.
Use acoustic chalk to seal your window gaps
Common sound leakage is from the gaps or holes between your windows. Fix this source of noise pollution by removing the window sealant and resealing it with latex-based acoustic chalk. The chalk helps to block airflow and reduce noise coming from outside.
Noise levels in the classroom affect learning
The higher the sound level, the more difficult it becomes to understand or hear what is being said. Research (Simmons, 1996) shows that if the school is affected by too high noise levels in the classroom, this usually leads to lack of concentration, stress, and fatigue, which in turn can lead to students’ school performance deteriorating. Creating a quiet and tranquil environment is critical for your voice to be heard loud and clear so your students can get the most out of their classroom learning – even if your school is located in a bustling and loud neighbourhood.