21st Century Classroom Audio Communication FEB 2015 EXCLUSIVELY FOR LIGHTSPEED PARTNERS

Collaboration throughout Communication = Learning Access for all Engagement for each Effective learning Effective learning

But… communication barriers lead to missed learning opportunities

Young children spend 75% of their school day involved in listening activities Research Services, 2007

Mild Hearing Loss can hold students back 30% of children grades K-3 didn’t pass a 15dB hearing test 70% with MHL will suffer academic deficiency by 6 th grade Source: MARRS Project

Hearing Range 20Hz Speech Range 100Hz8,000Hz 60dB TYPICAL BACKGROUND NOISE Add typical classroom background noise VOICE SIGNAL STRENGTH 20,000Hz INTELLIGIBILITY GAP DOMINANT SOUNDS 40dB 50dB 60dB 70dBA

Hearing Range 20Hz Speech Range 100Hz8,000Hz 60dB BACKGROUND NOISE Softer consonants drive intelligibility 20,000Hz A E I O U p h t k s th sc sh ~1,500Hz VOICE SIGNAL STRENGTH 40dB 50dB 60dB 70dB

Younger listeners can’t fill in the blanks Children need to receive % of information carried by the spoken word Handbook of Acoustic Accessibility, 2012

There are other challenges

Small group instruction is difficult How do I facilitate COLLABORATION? CHALLENGE Learning & behavior MANAGEMENT CHALLENGE What is going on? ASSESSMENT CHALLENGE

What’s the cost? Limited access isolates students Disengaged students get bored Collaboration turns into chaos

The unique flat-panel design delivers amazingly intelligible speech, distributed evenly across the room.

Flexible two-way communication system designed for differentiated instruction and other types of small group learning.

Small group instruction 2-way audio communication Up to six student groups Clarity to the whole group Team-teaching Exclusive technology* New MirandaNet Research Report

Components

Redcat Access: The “Brains” of the Operation Provides the whole group instruction component Considered the “base station” for all communication flow MUST have Redcat Access for all other devices to work

Redcat Access (Access version of Redcat) Key advantages: Increased transmission range Coverage in larger, open areas No interference with IR interactive projectors or other classroom tech No installation required

Flexmike Teacher Microphone Pendant style microphone – smaller and lighter than infrared Redmike Integrated earbud and lanyard for student group monitoring Team-teaching capability Microphone volume control standard Audio input to connect and direct wireless audio Utilizes Lightspeed AAA NiMH rechargeable battery pack

Flexcat student group pods Battery powered two-way audio pods Includes integrated speaker and microphone NiMH rechargeable battery pack (10+ hours) Up to 6 pods can be used with a system Speaker volume control on bottom Teacher controls microphone (monitoring) volume level with remote Call button allows students to request assistance Beep in teacher’s ear, pod # blinks on remote

Flexcat teacher remote Simple handheld teacher remote control Whole group instruction Amplified through Redcat Access = center button Pod selection (1-6) Microphone mute/unmute Silent monitoring (muted) Two-way conversations with groups (unmuted) Earpiece volume control (monitoring) Rechargeable battery Second teacher uses second remote

Charging Station Organizes and charges all components Charging slots for: 4 pods; 2 Flexmikes; 2 remotes Pods 5-6 charge via cable from the side of charging station Storage slots for earbuds Components require daily overnight charging Red light = charging Green light = charging complete

Flexcat Operation

Flexcat Operation (Cont’d)

Troubleshooting