Lightspeed Classroom

Amplification System

By Heather Brewer

Hope Academy Canton

1379 Garfield Ave SW

Canton, Oh 44706

330-454-3128

Description

Lightspeed is the leader in Classroom Amplification Technology.

It is designed to improve the listening and learning environment for every child. These systems are specifically designed for the classroom, with the teacher in mind. The systems are easy to use and proven to increase overall student achievement—without changing curriculum. The technology provides an even sound distribution in the learning environment. This is important because studies have demonstrated that children should be approximately six feet of the teacher in order to receive maximum speech intelligibility.

Highlights

• Can be used to team

teach, and the voices

will not get crossed

over each other.

• The microphone is

lightweight and

durable.

• Can be used by the

students to enhance

voice during oral

reading or

presentations.

• System will not pick up

your voice once you

have left your

classroom.

• Can be hooked up to

your television,

computer, PA system,

or radio to amplify the

sound.

Purpose

• The purpose of Lightspeed

technology is to positively effect the

learning environment in the

classroom by amplifying the teachers

voice. Because children under the

age of 15 do not have a fully

developed auditory network system

in their brains, they need a louder

auditory signal in order to learn.

Research has shown

• When using an amplification system in the classroom:

DIBELS scores scored an average of 35% higher

DRA Scores averaged 21% higher

Teacher Redirection involving student behavior were reduced by 72%

Off-Task Behavior decreased by 43%

Reading Fluency in 4th and 5th grades increased by 35%

Key Factor

The biggest positive that leads to all other positive outcomes is that by improving the signal-to-noise ratio, sound systems promote an auditory focus. A key issue for children is their focus. What a sound system does, by improving the signal to noise ratio, is create an auditory focus which is critical to learning.

Personal Qualifications

• 2004 graduate of Youngstown State

University. Major in Early Childhood

Education.

• Presently attending University of

Akron for Instructional Technology.

• Currently working as the Techno-

Achievement Supervisor at Hope

Academy in Canton. My duties

include: Scantron testing, report

cards, OAT duties, and facilitating in

the computer lab.

Qualifications Continued

• During substitute teaching I was able

to use the amplification system in

several of the schools I taught in.

There was a difference in behavior

when I used the system vs. when the

school did not use the system. At

the time I did not know about any

research done on the systems, and

did not know that in all new buildings

amplification systems are now

required in the state of Ohio.

Qualifications Continued

• The Lightspeed company will

supply two Redcat amplification

systems to the school for a free

90 day trial period. During this

time, teachers will be able to

use the systems in their room to

see how the product works.

Why do we need

Lightspeed?

• The main reason we need an amplification system

in our school is that we are currently in academic

watch. Since we have currently updated most of

our curriculum, the next step is to make sure it can

be delivered to the students in the best way

possible. Since the brains auditory network is not

fully developed until about the age of 15, children

require a quieter environment, and louder auditory

signal in order to learn. This is what the

amplification system is designed to do.

Anticipated Results

From using the Lightspeed

Amplification System in the

classroom, we are looking to see:

• off task behavior decrease thus

increasing learning time,

• A reduction in teacher redirection,

• DRA and DIBELS scores increase,

• An increase in reading fluency and

• Increased OAT scores.

Evaluation of Project

• The amplification systems will

be evaluated in several areas:

• Behavior in the classroom

• Number of teacher redirections

• Test scores

• Improvement in Reading Fluency

Evaluation Continued

• To evaluate the systems, we will

need to compare the data from this

year (without use of Lightspeed) to

how it changes over the course of

next year using the Lightspeed

system. We will use the data to see

if using the system has a positive

change in the learning environment.

Implementation

Timeline

August 2009-June 2010

• August 2009-Train teachers on how to use Lightspeed,

and provide them with the research that has been done on

why Lightspeed should be used in the classroom.

• September- Implement the use of Lightspeed into the

classroom. Chart behavior in the classroom, and teacher

redirections. Administer the Fall Scantron testing and AR

Star reading test.

• October-teachers meet to discuss observations made in

student behavior. Reflect on how using the equipment

compares to the previous year without the technology.

• February-Administer the Winter Scantron test and AR Star

reading test. Compare the growth made from fall to

winter with last years results. Compare behavior charts

with the beginning of the year.

Implementation

Timeline

August 2009-June 2010

• April-Administer OAT tests(results will come in the

summer)

• May-Administer the Spring Scantron tests, and AR

Star reading test. Compare the growth in both

areas to the growth made the previous year.

Teachers will meet to compare data, and discuss

findings.

• Summer 2010- OAT results come in. Look for

improvements made, compare scores to the

previous year. Discuss how Lightspeed effected the

results of the testing.

Expenses

• The Redcat Lightspeed amplification system costs

$898 per system.

• We will use them in 4 of our classrooms this year for

a total of $3592. We will be using them in both the

3rd

and 4th

grade classrooms.

• The initial training is provided by a Lightspeed

technician at no cost!

• Grand total: $3592

Conclusion

• I believe this amplification system should be supported by

the Foundation because is has been researched and

proven to find positive outcomes in the learning

environment. Being that we are an older school building,

we need to keep up with the newer ones being built in our

area. The state of Ohio now mandates that all new school

buildings come equipped with amplification systems.

These systems are beneficial for all students that are:

under age 15, struggling academically, sit in the back of

the class where they miss 30% of what the teacher says,

have a soft spoken teacher, are English Language

Learners, have a noisy classroom environment, or are in a

class with team teachers. This system will promote

positive outcomes in our school, and I feel it will help us

get our students where they need to be academically.

Continuation

• As results show a positive effect

on the classroom environment,

and learning, we will be looking

to purchase more amplification

systems for the following school

year. We will continue to use

the systems and monitor

progress.