If teachers want Too Noisy Pro to work effectively, they must spend time talking to students about its purpose. When they first introduce it to the class, they can play a few games to introduce students to what appropriate volume levels sound like in each classroom scenario (independent work time, test-taking time, group work time, etc.) and what sound students should listen for to know they’re being too loud. While the stars themselves may be enough to motivate some students, teachers should tie them to a larger reward to provide extra motivation. For example, maybe earning 10 stars earns the class an extra 10 minutes of recess.
Continue readingOn the screen, kids see a noise detector and a cute background. Behind the scenes, teachers set the acceptable sound level, microphone sensitivity, theme, and a host of other options. After setup, most teachers will opt to display the app on a larger screen so all students can track the noise level in the classroom. If the class remains at an acceptable level for the entire interval selected by the teacher (between one minute and 15 minutes), they earn a star. If they do not, they see the noise meter increase and eventually watch the screen crack as an alarm sounds. Teachers can select from six generic alarms or opt to record their own alarm to get students' attention. Once students quiet down, the interval starts again and students have another chance to earn stars.
A little noise can be a good thing in a classroom, but during some activities quiet is better. Whether sitting through a short lesson, working independently, or talking in groups, students can see Too Noisy Pro's sound meter in the background as a reminder to keep the volume at an appropriate level. The potential to earn stars motivates them, and the sounding alarm quickly reminds them to calm it down.