The image below is a key, you can use it to interpret and better understand the Learning Soundscape we have generated for you.
How is your learning influenced by what you can hear around you? In summer 2021, members of the Centre for Research in Digital Education worked with Digital Skills Education and two University of Edinburgh interns to develop an event and web-based activity exploring the ways that sound shapes our learning spaces.
We are delighted to make these activities available so that you can explore the sounds of your own learning spaces.
If you would like to watch the event recording from 10th Aug 2021 you will find it at the foot of the page.
The website works best using the Chrome web browser. Enter your details (first name is fine) and your learning space to access the activity.
Enter a name of your choice: Where is your learning space? (Your school or workplace, or the learning space you’re in right now):
In this activity, you are the learner, and your setting is the learning space. Our warm-up activity adapts an exercise used by R Murray Schafer and his colleagues in the World Soundscape Project, and draws our attention to those things we hear in our everyday surroundings. In this activity, you are the learner, and your setting is the learning space.
Follow these instructions:
What did you hear?
Maybe you heard passing traffic or the white noise or machines? Perhaps you became aware of your own breathing or heartbeat? Could you hear the sounds of nature or other people? Were you surprised by all the different types of sounds you could detect in your close surroundings in a short amount of time?
In this activity, we want you to think about the soundscape - the range of different sounds - that would be conducive to writing. This could be any sort of learning-related writing, for instance an essay, report, story and so on. To do this you will move the sliders until you create a mix of ambient sounds that works for you.
Follow these instructions:
1. Start the soundscape activity below (or scan the QR code using your smartphone or tablet).
2. Move the sliders The sliders represent the loudness of each individual sound. Try moving the sliders and listen to how the sound balance changes.
3. Set the sliders Now, try forming a comprehensive mix of all the sounds. Aim for a mix that you would feel comfortable writing to.
4. Send & Save the soundscape Finally, when you’re comfortable with the sound balance, press the Share & Save button. This will produce a visual representation of the soundscape you have created. You can use the image(s) you produce alongside the Soundscape Key to discuss your different learning soundscapes.
The image below is a key, you can use it to interpret and better understand the Learning Soundscape we have generated for you.
It also sends a copy of your Soundscape to us and we can see what you’ve made.
In this activity we are going to ask you to respond to different pieces of music, in each case thinking about whether they would enhance or disrupt your learning space and activity.
We want you to imagine your learning activity involves ‘composition’. This might mean composing an essay or another piece of writing. Or it could involve composing a photograph or other piece of visual work. Alternatively you might be composing or curating an exhibition or a performance. Choose whatever works for your own type of teaching, learning or practice.
Start the activity below and send us your reactions using Emojis.
Follow these instructions
1. Click the link to start the activity
2. Listen to the three, thirty second clips. Each clip features a different style of music. As you listen to the clips, think about whether they would support you while composing a piece of work.
Clip 1: Acoustic folk
Clip 2: Classical piano
Clip 3: Techno house
3. At the end of the clip please respond to the clip by selecting an emoji. After the third and final clip we then invite you to submit your responses. Remember, we are asking you to consider how each piece of music would affect your learning space as you attempt some form of composition, rather than asking you to tell us whether you like the music more generally.
4. See the results.
You can view everyone’s reactions, using the link below:
This event focused on the interplay between Sound and Learning Spaces. You’ll hear from members on the team as well as Academics in the field.
The website works best using the Chrome web browser
Press play below, to hear the introductory music again - that was created specifically with input from our live attendees.
Well, what did you think? Please complete
If you’re a teacher or learner (ages 10-16), we’ve got lots of other activities that you can try:
