Evaluation acoustic quality in lecture halls using onsite measurements and survey questionnaire

The effects of noise sources within the teaching and learning environment (lecture halls) on the learning process of students at different levels have been broadly studied. It has been suggested that non-adequate acoustic conditions have a negative impact on educational attributes such as communication and comprehending the material taught at the university. In this paper, we presents a quantitative assessment of the acoustic quality of classrooms at the University of Sharjah classroom by means of field measurements of the background noise, as well as the results of a subjective assessments by the students who undergo their education in these classrooms. We have found that the average noise level in the classrooms is within recommended limits, and that the ventilation system seems to contribute considerably to the background noise levels. The subjective evaluation by the students suggest that the sources that cause the most annoyance are those outside the classroom, and that these are heard with a regular frequency. The students seem to be overly satisfied with the classrooms acoustics nonetheless. We conclude with a discussion and recommendations on how to improve the noise levels in the studied classrooms.