CLASSROOM AMPLIFICATION PRODUCTS

Equal Access to the Teacher’s Voice - Every Child - Every Word - Every Time

Classroom Audio Technology

Lightspeed’s Guiding Purpose

To improve the listening and learning environment of every child

Lightspeed believes strengthening the connection between teachers and students is at the heart of learning

Classroom Audio Technology Defined:

A speech intelligibility system that provides

clarity of voice and even sound

distribution throughout the classroom

CAT helps to level the playing field, allowing

every child an opportunity to clearly hear

spoken instruction

Classroom Audio: A Three Decade Timeline

1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2009

Personal FM

FM forall students

1st generationof IR

2nd generationof installed IR

No-install IR

FM soundfield forchildren withhearing loss

Classroom Audio Technology: Why?Basics of Physics, Speech, and Human Learning Voice level is reduced by 75% each time the distance from the

teacher doubles - Hyper Physics (@ C.R.Nave, 2005)

90% of word recognition and comprehension is discerned from consonant sounds which, due to their high frequencies, are extremely difficult to project over distance relative to the lower frequency vowel sounds

In order to deliver intelligible speech, high and low frequencies need to be “balanced” for the particular acoustic space

Auditory Closure ~ “Filling in the Gaps” ~ Facilitates Auditory Processing

Creates a more conducive learning environment Teacher can speak in a natural voice ~ Less Stress!

Source: Finitzo-Hieber & Tillman 1994

3 ft. 6 9 12 16 24

Normal Seating Region

Teacher Voice ProjectionTeacher Voice Projection

70dB70dB 64dB64dB

58dB58dB56dB56dB

52dB52dB

Distance in Feet from Teacher

90% 46% 10%Word Recognition Scores

Avg. Room Ambient NoiseAvg. Room Ambient Noise60dB60dB

Classroom Audio Technology: Signal to Noise Ratio

The Psychological Dimension: ProxemicsPeople associate inclusion within the sound field with

the proxemic “social distance” Proxemics is the study human interaction and behaviour at a set

of measurable distances

Students within the social distance of 7 to 12 feet are also within the typical sound field of the teacher’s voice

Therefore, if the sound field is increased in size, students will feel that they are within the social distance regardless of where they are in the classroom

People interacting at a social distance feel much more obliged to “pay attention” to the person speaking

Creates a more conducive learning environment First there is hearing. Then there is listening!

The Psychological Dimension: Proxemics

The “Social Distance” of 4 to 12 feet is the typical effective sound field for a teacher’s voice

The Psychological Dimension: Proxemics

Students within the Social Distance can hear clearly and feel obliged to listen

The Psychological Dimension: Proxemics

Students who are farther away not only receive less auditory information, they feel less obliged to pay attention ~ double jeopardy!

3 ft. 6 9 12 16 24

Normal Seating Region

Teacher Voice ProjectionTeacher Voice Projection

70dB70dB 64dB64dB

58dB58dB56dB56dB

52dB52dB

Distance in Feet from Teacher

90% 46% 10%Word Recognition Scores

Avg. Room Ambient NoiseAvg. Room Ambient Noise60dB60dB

Classroom Audio Technology: The Benefits

Improved attention span

Improved on-task behavior

Increased academic

achievement

Reduced Classroom

Management

Reduced vocal strain & fatigue

Reduced stress in classrooms

Increased teaching

efficiency

Lower teacher absenteeism

Narrow achievement gap

Success for all students

Reduced referrals to spec

ed

Teacher Student School Board

Increased engagement

The Validated Results – Achievement Gains inDistricts Studied

21% increase in developmental reading assessment scores (DRA) Chelius, Canby School District, OR, 2002

33% increase in number of students testing at or above grade level; with most growth from students in lowest quartile Boswell, West Orange, NJ, 2006

43% decrease in number of K-6 students being referred to special education Mainstream Amplification Resource Room Study, 2005

35% increase in reading fluency for 4th & 5th graders Chelius, Canby School District, OR, 2002

64% increase in speech intelligibility scoresBrophy, Ayukawa, Univ. of Ottawa, ON, 2000

Examples of Validated Results – Teacher Attendance, Wellness, and Classroom Management in Districts Studied

43% reduction in off-task behavior &72% reduction in teacher redirectionsChelius, Canby School District, OR, 2002

25% decrease in overall teacher sick days taken in amplified classrooms Gertel & McCarty, Orange County Public Schools, FL, 2004

64% decrease in teacher sick days taken off due to voice related problemsAllen, Dubuque Community School District, IO, 1996

89% decrease in teacher vocal fatigue &86% decrease in overall stressBoswell, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, 2006

Attendance Management: A Quick Calculation for a public school board in Western Ontario

Assumption 1: $3.0 million/yr on TOC’s for elementary schools

Assumption 2: ~17,000 elementary students/23.5 = ~723 classrooms

Assumption 3: 723 classrooms x $1000 REDCAT = $723,000

Assumption 4: X% annual decrease in primary teacher sick days taken

Projected Decrease in Sick Days Taken

8% 10% 12%

Annual Cost Savings $240,000 $300,000 $360,000

Project Payback in Years

3.0 2.4 2.0

Classroom Audio Technology: How it Works

Complete integration of the latest instructional

technologies

Installation of equipment can be costly and require extensive preparation time and meetings

Changing curriculum is expensive & time consuming

Teachers change assignments, classes and schools frequently

Most technology adaptations require significant training

Training time is limited

Professional training is continuously needed for all subjects

With the newest generation of “All-in-One” classroom audio systems: no installation, no change in curriculum, no lengthy teacher training required

Adopting New Technology in the Classroom

Money-saving, no installation, all-in-one audio system Small, lightweight, easy-to-use microphone

+

Introducing…

All-in-one, no installation required Saves time: no more endless meetings around

implementation

Saves money: >30% cost savings compared to traditional sound systems

Simple: easy to implement, easy to use

More Technology for Less: put more systems into more classrooms

Clear Audio, Excellent Sound Distribution: NXT Technology, high speech intelligibility

Money-saving, no installation, all-in-one audio system

Frequency Response and Crossover

NXT

Cone

Crossover PointREDCAT

Media

“Bass” Speech Intelligibility

Frequency in Hz

Level in dB

Semi-portable System Options

Microphone Options

Easy to use volume controls

Pass around mic for students

Installed Classroom Audio Hub Options

Three products in the family:

CAT 805iX: Adds voice reinforcement to your existing audio system

CAT 855: Audio Hub for the classroom

CAT 885: Advanced features for media centers and larger classrooms

Installed System Speaker Options

Ceiling vs. Wall Speakers

Depends on classroom configuration

Single Speaker vs. Multiple Speakers

Installation cost savings

MCQ Multimedia Ceiling Speaker (x1)

NXQ Flat-panel wall speaker (x1)

DRQ Ceiling Speaker (x4)

WMQ Wall Speaker (x4)

New: MCQ Multi-Media Speaker

Hybrid design combines NXT flat panel speaker with 6” cone speaker

Only one speaker is needed per classroom; reducing installation costs

iR Media Connector

Wireless audio integration without installation

Flexibility in location - locate media & REDCAT where it is convenient

Integrate under-utilized multimedia to REDCAT

“The more children hear… the better they learn”

Any Questions?