The ECH Community

I'm a teacher rep in our school's PTA.  We've just learned about the benefits of using microphones in classrooms and are exploring the possibility of getting them in our school.  Can any teachers out there using this technology share their observations (pros/cons)?

Thanks in advance.

Jen Kimball

I am a first grade teacher in Baltimore County and have had the pleasure of having a sound enhancement system in my classroom. My school was chosen as a pilot school two years ago; sound systems were installed in homeroom classes. At first, many teachers had concerns about using the SES. They complained about the discomfort of wearing a microphone collar, and worried about disturbing neighboring classrooms.  Quite frankly, they did not see the usefulness of this new gadget. Now, when homeroom teachers are moved to unequipped classrooms, they are sure to ask for the prompt installation of an SES.

 Homeroom teachers wear the microphones all day.  Many of us have forgotten to take them off and accidentally wear them home. I am thrilled to have the SES in my classroom. Since teaching a full-sized class, I have had difficulties with losing my voice. Every week in spring, I found myself hoarse by Thursday. Now, I can speak with a soft voice and still be heard throughout my classroom. My voice strain is a thing of the past.

 Beyond the improvements in my physical comfort, the SES has been great for the students. Students are more attentive and can hear me from any location in the classroom. I have much greater freedom of movement. I can move among my students and use teacher proximity to every student and still be heard by all.  I can even write on the board and give verbal clues at the same time. My classroom is very large and partly open to a computer lab. The acoustics were very poor. With the SES, my room has improved greatly.

Teachers report to hear their neighbors less than before the microphones. Our voices are directly down to the students and not out. I know my voice quality is much more enjoyable without the strain I use to have. When I have paused the microphone, the students remind be to turn it back on. 

I also use the student handheld microphone throughout my day. It is a wonderful tool to help soft spoken students share so their peers can hear. This has really increased participation because the students are very motivated to use the microphone. I also use it to share stories and to read student writing.  

In short, I have found the SES to be a very useful tool in my classroom. The students and other teachers in my school are reaping the benefits. I never want to teach without an SES.

Sue Thompson 

Hello Jen,

My name is Katie Halberg.  I teach third grade in Brentwood, CA (Bay Area).  I am also the West Coast Regional Specialist for ECH.  A couple of years ago, I went back to school to get my Master's Degree and while doing my research I came across Sound Enhancement Systems.  At the time, I had no idea how passionate I would become on this topic.  It's amazing what we teachers really do not know about a child's ability to hear and how it impacts their learning.  I can honestly tell you that I will never teach without it!  You will see results right away.  I am determined for my school to become fully audio enhanced.  We are a little over have way there.  I have heard so many postive comments from teachers that have the system... even from teachers that were skeptical at first.  I have also heard from the teachers that do not yet have them in the classroom and desperately want them.  I look at it like this... We do not question putting lights in our classroom.  To me SES should be given the same empahis... The hard part is, is that hearing is invisible and therefore may be hard to detect hearing issues.  While writing my thesis, I interviewed other teacher at my school and in my school district.  Here are some of the things that they said...

The Audio Amplification Teacher Questionnaire examined various teacher responses to, and benefits derived from, sound field audio amplification.  “Our audio amplification systems have helped because students don’t have to work as hard to hear.  They can actually give more attention to the concepts being taught.  We save valuable education time as we do not have to repeat directions.”  Vocal health is a common concern among classroom teachers.  All seventeen teachers questioned reported they did not have to increase the vocal intensity and pitch of their teaching voice, and their voices were less strained and fatigued at the end of the school day.  “I love the fact that I do not need to strain my voice to get my students’ attention.  I have not had laryngitis all year.”  Another teacher stated, “I feel less fatigued at the end of the day.  When I have to talk in a situation without it, I find myself straining.  When I did our Science Workshop Presentation, they did not have the system in the room, and therefore I ended up straining my voice and wasn’t able to project my voice as well as I could have.” 

Teachers that were first apprehensive about using an amplification system, and teachers that thought they had a loud voice could also see the benefits.  “I didn’t want to use the system at first, but once I used it I loved it.  I will never teach without it,” and “I thought I was already loud enough, but I see a BIG difference with the children being able to understand the concepts being taught.”

Classroom management has also improved.  “The audio amplification system allows me to get the attention of a student across the room and get him/her back on task without having to leave the student I am instructing.”  Many teachers reported that the systems have had a positive impact on student behavior.  “Students enjoy talking into the microphone.  It’s nice to listen to presentations as I can now hear my students, especially my very soft-spoken children.  They enjoy listening to each other read.”  Every teacher reported that no matter their location in the classroom, all students had an equal opportunity to hear.  “No matter where I was, even if I was facing the white board, all my students could hear.  This gives them the opportunity to learn no matter where they are seated.”

Wilton Elementary teachers have also heard positive comments from parents at their school.  “I have a student who has failed her hearing screening every year.  Her mom was very pleased to hear that we have installed these systems at our school.”  Another parent mentioned that she was always worried that her child would miss important information when he sat in the back of the room.  “I am no longer worried where my child is seated.  Even if he is in the back, he will hear the instruction just like he was seated in the very front.”  The only negative comments found were about returning equipment that was not working properly.  “One of my microphones was not working.  I only had to wait a few days.  I was happy to have the working microphone back in my classroom.”  Sound-fiend audio amplification systems should be considered an invaluable education tool.  “I think that that all schools should be equipped with an audio amplification system.”  Audio amplification systems are a cost-effective way to create a better learning environment without changing to the current curriculum and teaching style. “I’ve been teaching for twenty-nine years.  I wish I had it when I first started teaching.  I will never teach without it!”

These findings show that teachers benefit from sound field technology.  They use less energy projecting their voices, suffer less vocal abuse, and are less tired at the end of the school day.  They also report that this technology increases teacher efficiency because they do not have to repeat directions, allowing for more on-task, actual teaching time.  Sound-field audio amplification offers a way of enhancing the classroom learning environment for the benefit of all students and teachers.

I hope this helps some... Please do not hesitate to contact me with more questions!  I'm happy to help in any way I can!  I can honestly tell you that you will love the SES.  I will never teach without it!

 Have a wonderful day,

Katie