Students learn better when teacher turns up the volume

11.45am

Research in Rotorua schools shows students are benefiting when their teachers use microphone headsets.

Kelston Deaf Education Centre regional co-ordinator Michael Heeney researched the use of sound-field systems in classrooms in five Rotorua primary schools.

He presented his findings to about 80 people, including representatives of the education and health sectors at Western Heights Primary School yesterday.

With the sound-field system, a teacher wears a microphone headset which is linked to four speakers in the classroom enabling his or her voice to be amplified.

A total of 626 students from Western Heights, St Mary's, Sunset, Westbrook and Otonga primary schools took part in the research project during 2002.

The students were split into two groups -- one of 438 students used the system while the rest did not.

Research showed the system improved literacy and behaviour.

Students found it easier to understand instructions, were more attentive and less disruptive.

Amplifying a teacher's voice improved the students' ability to understand what was being said, especially the third of the students who were identified during the research as having a history of middle ear problems.

Mr Heeney, who carried out the research through Newcastle University in Australia as part of his doctorate, said the system benefited all students regardless of school decile, ethnicity or whether or not they had middle ear problems.

Classrooms in most New Zealand schools had very poor acoustics and Mr Heeney recommended all teachers use the headsets.

"Sound-field is one of the most cost effective intervention a school can invest in to increase literary outcomes."

The device costs about $1700 to install in a classroom.

Mr Heeney's research was funded by the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust.

It paid for the headsets and speakers in each of the classrooms.

Trust chairwoman Judy Keaney said she hoped the Education Ministry would put funding into the project.


- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)