Optimization of acoustic quality in classrooms: an analytical and design approach

• Grant number: 24/13343-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Applied Social Sciences - Architecture and Town Planning - Architecture and Urbanism Technology
• Principal Investigator: Ranny Loureiro Xavier Nascimento Michalski
• Grantee: Arthur Lopes Capelo de Matos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Arquitetura e Urbanismo (FAU). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

School environments are of fundamental importance for individuals' social and intellectual growth. Acoustic quality in teaching environments is essential, directly impacting learning effectiveness and the health and well-being of students and teachers. Classrooms with good acoustic quality allow for clear speech understanding, promote student concentration and focus, favor including students with special needs, facilitate interaction and collaboration, improve academic performance, and reduce vocal fatigue and stress among teachers. Reducing excessive noise also contributes to a calmer and more pleasant environment, benefiting the mental and emotional health of everyone involved in the educational process. Given this context, this study aims to analyze the acoustic conditions and propose improvements for two classrooms at the Escola de Aplicação da Faculdade de Educação da Universidade de São Paulo: one for elementary education and the other for music. The methods used in the research will be experimental and qualitative, through field surveys with acoustic measurements and the application of questionnaires to users, supported by numerical or predictive methods, through computer simulations. Based on the data obtained in the field, an analysis of the acoustic conditions will be carried out, followed by a design approach with the proposal of strategies to improve the acoustic behavior of both rooms. The results will be analyzed in a descriptive statistical manner and compared with recommendations cited by standards and references. The proposed design strategies that present the best solutions for the acoustic quality of the environments will be implemented on-site. At the end of the work, it is expected to assist in the validation of the implemented project, evaluating its efficiency.