Workshop on Classroom Acoustics, Dec. 6 & 7 in Los Angeles
dlubman at ix.netcom.com
Fri Sep 19 11:14:27 EST 1997
ELIMINATING ACOUSTICAL BARRIERS TO LEARNING IN CLASSROOMS
6 - 7 December 1997
Los Angeles, California
The House Ear Institute
A Workshop for eliminating classroom noise and reverberation as barriers
to effective learning and easy verbal communication between students and
To bring together those engaged in the planning, development or use of
educational facilities, including
Educators Administrators Architects Audiologists
Speech Pathologists Acousticians Government Officials Parents Others
Organized by The Acoustical Society of America
Partial List of Sponsors:
American Academy of Audiology, Architectural & Transportation Barriers
Compliance Board, Council of Educational Facilities Planners
International, Educational Audiological Association, House Ear
Institute, Institute of Noise Control Engineering, National Council of
Acoustical Consultants, Self-Help for the Hard-of-Hearing
What is the Purpose of This Workshop?
Research has confirmed teacher and parent experience that poor classroom
acoustics (high noise levels or reverberation):
Creates a major barrier to individual learning;
Places additional burdens on teachers;
Is a source of low student achievement, poor classroom discipline and
Is detrimental to all students and teachers but especially to those
with a hearing, learning or language disability;
Can be avoided by design and corrected with current knowledge.
This Workshop is designed to provide practical planning strategies and
methods to avoid or correct poor acoustics in existing and planned
What Will Participants Discuss?
How to identify, diagnose and solve acoustical problems in classrooms
and other listening and learning spaces.
How to identify students at high risk, such as those with mild hearing
loss, with limited English proficiency, or with ADD (Attention Deficit
Demographics of the classroom acoustics problem: the number, type and
ages of students at risk.
Acoustical parameters of speech intelligibility emphasizing background
noise levels and reverberation time.
Risks to normally abled students.
Recommended architectural acoustic criteria for intelligible speech.
Practical solutions to implementation problems, including
architectural, engineering, financial and political aspects.
Access guidelines and possible standards.
How acousticians, architects and audiologists can work effectively
with administrators, teachers and parents to create acoustically
excellent learning spaces.
Saturday December 6
Workshop Plan and Format
Expert Presentations on
Who is at risk? - the demography.
Goals for classroom speech intelligibility.
Architectural acoustics for classrooms.
Architectural and engineering challenges
Financial and political challenges.
Lunch at House Ear Institute (HEI)
Tour: HEI Facilities
Model acoustical specifications for planning or procurement of
facilities and equipment.
Clinic on HVAC noise control
Strategies for teachers and administrators
Interim Steering Committee Report
Sunday, December 7
Response to the anticipated ADA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
Case studies in classroom acoustics.
Impact of Multimedia on classroom acoustics.
Steering Committee Report
Closing Panel Discussion
A mail-in registration form is on the last page of this Announcement.
Because of limited space, registrations will be accepted on a
first-come, first-served basis.
The registration fee of $80 includes Saturday's lunch and approved CEU
credits, which are being arranged through the American Academy of
Audiology, the American Institute of Architects, and possibly other
House Ear Institute
2100 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
333 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Cost: $90/night (single or double)
Make your own reservations by Nov 7 at:
1-800/524-7263. Mention Workshop for low rate
Bus transportation between hotel and HEI will be provided.
Exhibitors: Limited table-top exhibit space is available.
Contact Sigfrid Soli at HEI.
For additional information, please contact one of the following Workshop
organizers representing the Acoustical Society of America's Technical
Committees on Architectural Acoustics (TCAA), Noise (TCN), Psychological
& Physiological Acoustics (TCP&P) and Speech Communication (TCSC):
David Lubman (for TCAA)
e-mail: dlubman at ix.netcom.com
Peggy B. Nelson, Ph.D. (for TCP&P)
(202) 651-5779 x 6464
e-mail: pbnelson at gallux.gallaudet.edu
Sigfrid D. Soli, Ph.D. (for TCSC)
Voice 213/353-7085 Fax 213/413-0950
e-mail: ssoli at hei.org
Louis C. Sutherland, (for TCN)
Voice 310/541-7654 Fax 310/541-7795
e-mail: lou-sutherland at juno.com
Workshop Organizing Committee:
Karen L. Anderson, Ed.S., CCC-A
Bennett M. Brooks, TCAA
Carl C. Crandell, University of Florida
T. James Du Bois, TCN
Dana S. Hougland, Chair, TCAA
Jerry G. Lilly, P.E., NCAC
Michael T. Nixon, TCAA
Richard Peppin, INCE
Mark E. Schaffer, TCN
Anne Seltz, M.A., CCC-A
Donna Sorkin, SHHH
For the latest information on the workshop
and organizations offering CEU credits, see
ASA's Web Page at http://asa.aip.org.
(The information is expected to be posted
to this website some time in October Until
then contact David Lubman for update info.)
Registration Form: Fax to ASA at 516/576-2377
Or mail to:
The Acoustical Society of America
Classroom Acoustics Workshop
Attn: Elaine Moran
500 Sunnyside Blvd.
Woodbury, NY 11797-2999
Phone_______________________ Fax __________________ e-mail
City __________________________________ State/Province
Zip/Mail Code ______________ Country (if non-US)
Registration fee: # __________ @ $80 = $ ___________________
( ) Check enclosed for $ ____________, or Credit Card
( ) American Express ( ) VISA ( ) MasterCard
Account # _____________________________ Expires :
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