As we know that it will be ideal if the classroom is quiet so that students can study well. Teachers will also not be disturbed when they explain materials to students if the classroom is quiet. However, sometimes it is not easy to maintain the classroom to be quiet, so you may need a free noise meter for your classroom.
Actually, there are a number of noise meters for classrooms to monitor noise, but here are 5 free classroom noise level monitors according to the Class Craft and We Are Teachers site.
ClassCraft Volume Meter
By using Classcraft’s Volume Meter, teachers can manage their classroom where it can be done by setting a max volume threshold of their choosing. When the class makes noise, you will see a horizontal bar which fills up. Volume will also fluctuate in real time. So, if it is used, students will see how close they are getting to the maximum which the teacher is able to adjust anytime.
Let’s say that the noise stays below the limit. If so, the students get ‘treasure’ when the meter is stopped. However, if the students are too loud, they will lose their chance at the reward. As a teacher, you are permitted to set a timer if you want the Volume Meter to run for a specific period of time.
This volume meter is free to use and you do not need to have a Classcraft account. There is no registration that you need to do for using this volume meter. So, this volume meter is easy to use for all ages. This volume meter is built-in with a timer and it is compatible with Android mobile browsers and also desktop browsers.
With it, students are able to take part in setting the max threshold where they can do that by testing out the volume. It makes classroom management a collective effort and it can help teachers select the maximum level which is right for their class.
If it is used with a Premium account, the volume meter becomes a part of a bigger Classcraft game. It means that students are able to get real rewards such as Experience Points or XP and Gold Pieces or GP because they are quiet or get a penalty if the teacher selects. Since it has an impact on their character and their team, so for students it is more meaningful.
Bouncy Balls
Another free browser app for monitoring noise level is Bouncy Balls. It is a tool where students have to balance a bunch of coloured balls of different sizes. As the teacher, you are permitted to adjust the sensitivity level of your computer microphone and even you are able to change the total number of balls on screen up to 200.
This free noise meter browser app for classroom computers offers different ball themes, like emoji, plastic, bubbles or eyeballs. So, you are able to choose which theme of balls that you want to use.
If the students are too loud when they are in the classroom, then the balls will jump too high in the air where it warns on the screen that students have to be quiet.
This app is easy and fun to use. The silly nature which is featured on this app adds some excitement to the classroom so that it makes this app a great app for younger students.
Too Noisy
Too Noisy is another free app for monitoring noise in the classroom. According to Classcraft, this app offers a free browser tool and also mobile apps which are not free where when I tried to access Google Play to find this app, it costs $6.49. On this app, there is an arrow which spins left and right on a dial, same as a speed meter in a car. If the volume of the class is low, the arrow will stay in the green and yellow range. However, if the students get too loud, you will see that the arrow spikes into oranges and reds where it warns students that they have hit the max.
Behind the meter, you can see a blue sky with clouds and a happy emoji. If the students begin to get loud, you will see that the sky turns orange, the cloud grey, and the emoji frowns. If the max is reached, the whole sky will be dark gray and black and the emoji will be a crying face.
This app is simple and it is not too distracting. This app also has shifting colours and changing emojis which are an effective visual sign that can push students to stay quiet.
The free version of this app can be used by registering first. If you register, it will take some steps and screens. The disadvantage of this app may be the cartoonish nature of the app which may seem too childish for some students. But, for students who like this cartoon thing, they may like it.
Calm Counter
This browser app shows noise level where if it shows green, it means good and if it shows red, it means bad. The setting that you have to worry about is the microphone sensitivity. This web tool does not have any fancy bells and whistles. It is very easy to use and the visual that it has makes it simple for kids to see when they are too noisy.
Zero Noise Classroom by Google Chrome
If you want to use this app, the thing that you have to do is to set a timer and you will see that the current sound levels appear in the background as it runs. Light shades mean quiet and darker grey means the classroom has gotten louder. If you see there is a red stripe which is shown, it means that the noise has passed the maximum level. Since it is a Chrome extension, you have to use the Chrome browser and you have to visit the Chrome web store to install this Zero Noise Classroom. After you install it, you have to launch the app, choose your settings and click the start arrow to start.
