Surely we've all had those times when we haven't been able to hear the instructor clearly in class. It can lead to misunderstanding of directions or even an inability to understand the course materials. Audio Enhancement Technologies have been helping students learn in classrooms for years through whole classroom/school providers such as Audio Enhancement, Teq, and CCS Audio Visual Experts among others.
Image Description: Image shows a teacher using audio enhancement while reading to students who are noticeably engaged, as several are raising their hand to ask or answer questions.
Image from CCS Southwest
See this technology in action in the video below
Video Description: In this video, Osceola County School District share how they are using Audio Enhancement in their classrooms.
Subtitles available by clicking on the closed captioning (CC) option.
Technology such as this in classrooms in classrooms is important for a variety of reasons. In addition to creating an accessible classroom that supports all students, this technology also follows the RAT (replacement, amplification and transformation) Framework for technology integration as introduced by Hughes et al. (2006).
Replacement - Some providers of Audio Enhancement technology combine their service with visual recording as well, allowing for teachers to record their lessons to send to students to review at home. For some students, the inclusion of the ability to add subtitles to the lecture in addition to the audio visual elements will give them supports that they may need to be successful in school. In this way, the instructional method is not changed, yet the medium through which students can access the lecture can be changed to a more accessible format, should students need it.
Amplification - When students are better able to hear the teacher in the classroom, it decreases the need for teachers to strain their voice or for students to ask teachers to repeat themselves, thus increasing the efficiency and productivity of classroom learning.
Transformation - When students struggle to hear and keep up with the lesson, they may disengage from the conversation. Likewise those students who are shy or speak quietly may be unwilling to raise their hand to be heard in class. With this technology, more students are able to participate in the class, enhancing the discussion and bringing about perspectives and viewpoints that might not have otherwise been heard. Additionally, teachers have greater opportunities for group assignments or utilizing spaces in the classroom that might have otherwise been prohibitive due to inability to communicate from a distance. This technology allows for more freedom of movement in the classroom, as well as increased engagement between students as well as with the instructor.
If your school does not have this technology or cannot approve funding, there are a number of resources available to seek funding, such as GetEdFunding.com, the NEA Foundation and Teach.com. Additionally, crowd funding might be an option with Donorschoose.org or adoptaclassroom.org
Individual portable audio enhancement devices are also available for purchase online from vendors like Amazon, Walmart, and other retailers.
References:
Hughes, J., Thomas, R. & Scharber, C. (2006). Assessing technology integration: The RAT - replacement, amplification, and transformation - framework. SITE 2006 Proceedings (pp. 1616-1620). https://web.archive.org/web/20211030191410/http://techedges.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Hughes_ScharberSITE2006.pdf
Reading this blog post really made me reflect on how something as simple as hearing clearly in class can dramatically shape a student's learning experience. I appreciated how it framed audio enhancement technology not just as a tool, but as a way to empower quieter students, reduce teacher strain, and make participation more equitable. The use of the RAT framework helped me see how these systems can truly transform classroom dynamics, not to just amplify sound but amplify engagement and inclusion. It also got me thinking about access: how can we ensure these kinds of tools reach the students and schools that need them most?
ReplyDeleteAmber
ReplyDeleteThis post will help any teacher bring their students to a leveled learning experience that will last for a lifetime. Replacement, amplify, and transformation framework should be the goal of all who enters a classroom setting and this piece of equipment does just that. Thank you for the approved funding already available to help purchase this system. Your blog post was very interactive and kept my interest all the way through (Love the videos). Thanks
Hi Amber,
ReplyDeleteDuring my undergrad, I did a practicum in a kindergarten class that utilized an audio enhancement system. I was so impressed with the engagement and attentiveness of the class, and think the audio enhancement system played a big role. The teacher was able to capture the class’s attention with just one word, which made transitions a lot quicker and smoother. This system did not have a handheld microphone component, but I think that would be very beneficial. In my classroom students always loved to share their morning quick writes but some students were so soft-spoken that the class couldn’t hear them. Having an audio enhancement system coupled with the handheld microphone would have been a great tool to boost students’ confidence and ensure the whole class could hear them. I think an audio enhancement system is a great example of assistive technology that can benefit all learners and could also open the door to meaningful conversations with students about accessibility.
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ReplyDeleteI think an audio enhancement system would be a game changer for both my students and myself in my 4K classroom. It would increase engagement and attentiveness for students, and it would help me not strain my voice! Looking at this technology through the R.A.T. model shows the positive impact that it could have on student achievement.
ReplyDeleteI have used a type of audio enhancement system for one student during my career. His hearing loss was discovered in my 4K classroom through collaboration between me (his classroom teacher), our school speech language pathologist, and our school nurse. He was able to receive hearing aids, and we had an audio enhancement system that was just for him. I wore a microphone that amplified my voice in his hearing aids, but it did not amplify my voice for the entire class. His attentiveness skyrocketed, he began to build friendships, and he made an enormous amount of progress academically once he could actually hear clearly. This tool truly changed his life!