Noise levels

And their effect on learning environments

Ambient Noise (dBA)

Noisy rooms obstruct children’s ability to concentrate and perform, wherever they are. The Learnometer has an ambient noise sensor measuring between 40 abd 95dB, A-weighted, slow-response.

Professor Heppell advises sound above around 72 decibels starts to be disruptive – although what the sound is matters too. A simple guide for beats per minute is to stay below 80 bpm

“Studies confirm that the classroom sound signature can affect how well students achieve (Picard and Bradley 2001). Learnometer constantly gives you automated feedback on sound volumes (including from the students!) and rhythms (for example from projector fans or air conditioning units) in your classroom, will highlight changes to be made, and plots the results of your changes by hour, day, and even year.

As a starting point we suggest that sound above around 72 decibels starts to be disruptive – although what the sound is matters too (for example is is hard to write when background music contains a familiar lyric). A simple guide for beats per minute is to stay below 80 bpm”

Stephen Heppell

Learnometer Inventor