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By Elaine DeForest Janiga
Over a six-year period, I worked to bring soundfield systems to the Humble Independent School District. The district-wide effort began with just one elementary school-Willow Creek Elementary-where I began to conceptualize, research, procure funds, purchase, and install sound field systems. In 2006, the Humble Independent School District Board approved sound field installation in 22 elementary campuses and all new elementary school construction. Currently, Humble ISD has more than 1,000 systems serving 13,000 children in general and special education and over 700 teachers. Here are some steps you can take to bring sound field systems to your school.
7 Step Action Plan
- Understand Benefits of Sound Field
Develop a research packet supporting sound field as an educational tool
- Determine Classroom Needs
Talk with vendors' find schools with sound field; hear for yourself!
Target classes-Keep in mind class size, class acoustics, use, and location (near highways, trains, airports).
- Build Support
Have an innovative teacher try out a vendor's systems on loan
Emphasize innovation, increase test scores, improve behavior, less stressed teachers when communicating with principals
Parents will promote a project helping all children
Demonstrate sound field at PTA/PTO Open House Night
- Network! Network! Network!
Campus and District Decision Making Committees
PTA/PTO
Inform elementary principals through presentations
Local funding groups
- Secure Funding and for purchase
School fundraising
Local money is easier to get (PTA/PTO)
Local businesses, major corporations
Vendors help determine technology needs
Form a grant planning/writing team. Possible grant sources:
www.fndcenter.org
www.ed.gov/funding.html
www.schoolgrants.org
www.nea.org/grants
www.fconline.fndcenter.org/index.html
Don't ever give up!
- Maintenance
Promote on campus TI support
Dead batteries, occasional microphone repair
- Installation
Vendors will advise on installation locations
Elaine DeForest Janiga has been a public school speech-language pathologist for 21 years. She co-presented with FrontRow Active Learning at the 2005 ASHA National Convention and in 2006 at the Texas Speech and Hearing Association on "The SLP-An Advocate for Sound Field in the Classroom." Contact her by e-mail at Elaine.Janiga@humble.k12.tx.us.
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