“Acoustics for learning environments across physical and virtual realities” Chaired by Jenina Fels & Arianna Astolfi
Forum Acousticum 2027 held in Gratz, Austria, this September was a certified “Green Meeting”
Session overview part 1
A great mix of topics from acoustic modelling, predicting how learning spaces might sound and be perceived, listening effort and comfort, speaker effort and comfort, cognitive load in background noise through to teacher health and well-being with a specific focus on anxiety.
A large ongoing teacher survey in Italy highlighted that; “acoustic measures characterise the environment while psychological measures characterise the individual. Considering both is the future to reducing teachers’ anxiety and improving their well-being.”
Ioana Tsankova – “Noise perception and cognitive load in a simulated reverberant library under full occupancy”
Ioana from Politecnico di Torino started the first of two, Acoustics for Learning Environments sessions, with Torino library case study – Remodelling of a 1937 building accommodating up to 1200 occupants, in a large space with a volume of 160000m3.
Overview
Importance of such a space for many types of learning activities slides listening effort is multi-dimensional (colours) State of the art slide & different occupancy conditions slide
Insights – modelling and looking into perceived annoyance and cognitive performance in a sound scape with a mix of intelligible and unintelligible speech, different learning activities, HVAC in addition.
Cognitive lab tests to simulate the potential noise perception, cognitive performance/ short term memory performance with and without noise.
Insights:
Some insights so far are the noise levels alone will not completely explain how the space will work. Also NC headphones might actually lead to increased cognitive load in addition to reduced personal adaptability.
Chiara Vistenin – “Cognitive, auditory, and room acoustic effects on the irrelevant speech effect in primary school children: A structural equation modelling approach”
Insights and key takeaways
Chiara highlighted that we must not design for the Grade A student only, but also those with additional needs to support Universal Design for all.
Call for Papers: In addition Chiara highlighted the call for papers for “Acoustics Design for All” – more info here.
Manavui Suneja – Evaluating speech intelligibility across seating zones in a naturally ventilated classroom (India).
Insights
It was interesting to understand how much the Indian classroom acoustic conditions can vary and have such different challenges between winter and summer climates, doors/ windows open, fans on vs winter when windows and doors are closed and fans might be off, reducing the background noise significantly. Summer is a huge challenge.
Veronica Raspa – Psychological outcomes among teachers in school acoustic contexts: A preliminary descriptive study within the INAIL BRiC Project
BRIC project has established a standardised psychological profiling can be successfully paired with objective acoustic engineering in schools.
Insights
This is an excellent survey of teachers’ working conditions highlighting the importance of two key aspects: Acoustic measures characterise the environment while psychological measures characterise the individual. Considering both is the future for reducing teachers’ anxiety, burnout, and improving their health and well-being.
More info about these presentations at Forum Acusticum 2026 conference proceedings.
Previous Forum Acousticum conferences:
