Gerhart Tiesler

ABSTRACT

Acoustics and air quality and their impact on student concentration and fatigue

Research was initiated in 2005 by public discussion of air quality in offices and schools. One pattern for our research we found in “Handbuch der Schulhygiene” (handbook of hygiene in schools), 2^nd edition from 1902. Most of the results in that book were forgotten, especially recommendation of the limit of 1000ppm CO₂ in the air of classrooms for good learning conditions. Our research included monitoring of complete lessons over the day in two elementary schools and one gymnasium, including an awareness-test before and after school. Monitoring has been done over two days in every group participating, divided in two steps. 1^st step under usual conditions, 2^nd step with special timing of ventilation of the classroom. For best comparison conditions monitoring was placed for both steps on same weekdays with same timetable of lessons. The data include 16 groups, age from 6 to 16 years old, 350 students.

• Continuously monitored data all over the day: CO₂, SPL, teaching situation (communication, action), physiologic workload.
• Awareness-test for every student before an after school day
• Acoustic-ergonomic data of all classrooms

The research data will show the importance of good air quality and room acoustics for better learning conditions.