Workshop on Classroom Acoustics, Dec. 6 & 7 in Los Angeles

[David Lubman]

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
teachers.


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
teacher burnout;

• 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
educational facilities.


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
Disorder).

• 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
administrative,
 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.


AGENDA (Tentative)

Saturday December 6

Morning
        Keynote Presentation
        Workshop Plan and Format
        Expert Presentations on
        Fundamental Problems
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)
Distinguished Speaker

Afternoon
        Tour: HEI Facilities
        Model acoustical specifications for planning or procurement of
facilities and equipment.
        Breakout Sessions
Clinic on HVAC noise control
Strategies for teachers and administrators

Interim Steering Committee Report

Sunday, December 7

Morning
        Acoustical Demonstrations
        Response to the anticipated ADA Notice of Proposed Rulemaking

        Breakout Sessions
Case studies in classroom acoustics.
Impact of Multimedia on classroom acoustics.

        Steering Committee Report
        Closing Panel Discussion
        Noon Adjournment
        
REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

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
organizations.


Workshop Location:
House Ear Institute
2100 W. 3rd Street
Los Angeles, CA 90057
Tel: 213/483-4431

Conference Hotel:
(downtown LA)

Sheraton Grande
333 S. Figueroa St. 
Los Angeles, CA 90057

Voice 213/617-6000
Fax 213/613-0291

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)
Voice/Fax 714/373-3050
 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

Name________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone_______________________ Fax __________________ e-mail
___________________________

Company Name
_____________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address
_____________________________________________________________________

City __________________________________ State/Province
________________________________ 

Zip/Mail Code ______________ Country (if non-US)
_________________________________________

Registration fee: # __________  @ $80 = $ ___________________

(     ) Check enclosed for $ ____________, or Credit Card

(     ) American Express        (     ) VISA    (     ) MasterCard     
Signature
__________________________

Account # _____________________________                 Expires :
Mo/Year __________