An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning

1. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning Dr Sarah Younie Director of Research & Innovation at MirandaNet Reader in Education, Innovation & Technology at De Montfort University, UK

2. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning • Lightspeed - associate of the MirandaNet Fellowship of Educators (www.mirandanet.ac.uk) • Professional network founded in 1992 – • has 1,000 members in 80 countries • Collaborative research MirandaNet & Lightspeed • Roger Turner -Lightspeed Technologies education consultant draws on advice from the MirandaNet Fellowship

3. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning • Research issues: • Generalisability, reliability and validity • Triangulation • Findings: – phase 1 and 2 • questionnaires returned from: • 58 teachers and 554 pupils

4. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning REDCAT research main findings demonstrated: • improved pupil hearing and understanding of teacher instructions; • improved on-task behaviour and pace of learning; • improved attention and engagement in discussion activities; • improved ability to follow directions; • improved self-confidence of pupils when speaking to the whole class.

5. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning For teachers, the key benefits of the system were judged to have been: • less repetition of instructions; • less vocal fatigue and tiredness; • improved ability to control and manage the class; leading to better behaviour; • more time to support individual and small groups of learners.

6. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning • Summary of Lightspeed Redcat research findings: • strongly support those of previous research • show that 90 percent of teachers agree that their pupils were able to hear and understand them better when using the technology • shows the importance of learning environments in promoting learning & equipping classrooms with appropriate technology

7. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning • Phase 1 Flexcat research findings: • Provides excellent speech intelligibility to whole class in all spaces • Improves teacher monitoring and re-direction of small group collaborative working inside and outside the classroom • Less disturbance to group working when addressing one group • Faster support provided to small groups needing assistance • Improved small group feedback to whole class • Problems with teacher headsets, teachers’ ability to hear pupils sufficiently clearly and for pupils to be heard clearly when taking to the whole class identified but appear rectified in subsequent version of the Flexcat system.

8. An Evaluation of Classroom Audio Distribution Technology for Teaching and Learning • Researcher: Roger Turner, Director RDT Consultancy • Academic Evaluators: • Prof Christina Preston, Director of MirandaNet • Dr Sarah Younie, Director of Research and Innovation at MirandaNet and Reader in Education, Innovation and Technology at De Montfort University, UK