Activities

Progressive educational approaches are embracing new pedagogical and more flexible methods of supporting teaching and learning whilst maximising the use of the premises. An open-plan learning landscape may have several class bases which often share teachers and involve many students in close proximity, creating potential mutual disturbance and disruption.

Acoustics

Communication here, similar to a cellular classroom, is about hearing and being heard but this is a much more complex acoustic situation. Minimising noise from surrounding class activities is a key priority as the voices from adjoining classes can be the main cause of on-task distraction and disruption.

In open-plan areas, highly absorbing ceilings are a priority. It is also of benefit to have sound-scattering objects - with careful choice of furniture, additional free hanging absorbers to assist with acoustic zoning and wall absorbers where possible. Sound-scattering objects redirect sound and improve the performance of the sound absorbing ceiling, thereby improving the acoustic environment in large open spaces.