A study on the Impact of Noise in Teachers’ daily life

There are not many analytical studies on the acoustics front in India, and certainly very less pertaining to teachers. This made it even more relevant for us at Saint-Gobain Ecophon, to plan for such an activity.

Methodology:

The survey was done through google forms and 235 teachers posted their responses. There were 10 designated multiple-choice questions covering various relevant aspects of the study. We reached out to the State board, CBSE, ICSE, Graduation and Post-Graduation teachers through their various associations and groups, here in India.

We had a good mix of respondents (teachers) across various sections, which involved Pre-Primary, Primary, Secondary, High-school, Graduation and Post-Graduation across various boards viz. State, CBSE, ICSE, IGCSE (IB Board) etc.

The detailed outcomes and findings of the research are as below:

Findings of the study:

1) Out of 235 teachers, about 65% teachers rated highest level of importance to noise-control in learning spaces. This clearly indicates that high noise levels are indeed a big concern area for teachers as it can reduce their productivity and perhaps also make it difficult for the students to retain information.

2) Out of 235 teachers, about 87% teachers believe that noise in the classroom leads to stress. It is safe to assume that majority of teachers consider noise as a contributor in stress-levels. High noise levels can make teachers tired and increase fatigue.

3) Almost 80% teachers feel that they have to often repeat even as they are teaching in the class. This problem mainly arises due to the lack of speech clarity, especially the last bench students finding it even more difficult to hear the teacher well. Also, a student sitting below the fan can have a compromised quality of sound reaching to him or her, as compared to others.

4)  Approx. 44% teachers agree that there is a considerable echo in the classroom, once the e-learning videos are played. In India, majority of schools now have e-boards, projector, speakers etc. to play the e-learning modules. With the speaker systems in place, the overall sound energy and echo in the classroom increases while speech clarity tends to drops.

5) About 27% teachers say that their throat is sore on a weekly basis and  67% teachers say the same happens with them on occasional basis.

6) 42% teachers have said that they’ve missed school due to voice-related issues such as sore-throat, loss of voice, throat infection etc. arising out of the necessity to speak loudly in the class. The teacher is forced to do so, due to the existing high sound-levels which culminate together as background noise, because of which the teacher has to throw more voice in-order to be heard by the students. In this process the teacher experiences throat issues or loss of voice.

7) About 93% teachers feel that there will be increase in the class participation if there is less noise in the classroom. Noise is indeed a major factor that hampers good teaching and learning. Noise can constitute many factors viz. Students talking, PA systems, HVAC etc. And if the room isn’t acoustically treated, the reflections further increase the unwanted noise, making the overall environment stressful.

8) Approx. 60% teachers feel that there are high noise levels in the cafeteria/ canteens in their institution. Canteens are a place where teachers want to relax and enjoy their meals, however due to high noise levels they aren’t able to do so. Infact they are left with feeling drained out and even more tired. Almost so is the case, with student canteen spaces.

9) Close to 61% teachers feel that they ignore and adjust to high sound levels and not necessarily act over it or raise the issue with the higher management. One of the primary reasons for the same may be, lack of acoustic awareness or in simple words cluelessness that there is a solution to the problem of Noise. Thus they become more noise-tolerant and are reluctant to raise this issue upwards. Higher managements’ resistance and overall work-culture could also be one of the contributing factors.

10) About 88% teachers feel the need to have an infrastructure that absorbs sound in their school classrooms or other spaces in their institution. This itself is a huge number and certainly majority of them feel the need for good acoustics in their institutions. Educationists need to certainly raise these concerns and take appropriate action for their existing/ upcoming projects, in the best-interest of the well-being of their teachers/ students.

This study has brought to light, the consequences of Noise in teachers’ daily life in India. A good acoustic environment will really help the teachers in carrying out their job in a much more effective way. Acoustic treatment is of course a must-have in classrooms but also in rooms such as auditoriums, canteens, music rooms, corridors, sports-halls, libraries etc.

Also teachers can be provided with an open environment which can encourage them to voice out their concerns, if that sort of a culture is not already in practice in the institution. At the same time School Owners/ Directors, Architects, Education Consultants etc. can ensure that along with aesthetics and other functions, acoustics also must be treated as a strong priority while designing Edu-Institutes.