In an era where education is rapidly evolving, St Philip’s Christian College in Newcastle stands out with its state-of-the-art Active Learning Centre (ALC). A blend of cutting-edge technology and innovative design, the multi-storey ALC building showcases a commitment to fostering a dynamic learning environment. Central to this transformation are Sennheiser’s audio solutions which play a pivotal role in enhancing communication and collaboration.

 

 

 

The vision for the ALC was clear: to create a versatile, technology-driven space that supports active learning and caters to diverse educational needs. As David Price, Director of Infrastructure Development at St Philip’s Christian College, explains, “We wanted a facility that really enhanced the concept of active learning within our schools.” This meant not only integrating top-tier audiovisual systems but also ensuring they were user-friendly for both students and educators.

 

Given the school’s longstanding commitment to technology, dating back to its pioneering laptop program in 1999, the new facility needed to reflect this tradition. The challenge was to implement a seamless, high-quality audio system that could support various activities, from sports to drama to collaborative learning, without overwhelming users with complexity.

 

 

 

To meet these ambitious goals, St Philip’s Christian College partnered with Innavate Integrated Solutions, led by Anthony Finlay. The project centred around several key Sennheiser technologies:

 

 

• SpeechLine Digital Wireless (SLDW)
  
  These microphones provide crystal-clear audio for presentations and group discussions. “The decision was made to make it as simple as possible for our teaching staff, which is why we elected to go with handheld transmitters rather than packs and lavaliers,” said Price. This focus on ease of use ensures that educators can engage with their students without technical distractions.
  
  
• MobileConnect
  
  Recognising the diverse needs of students, MobileConnect offers personalised hearing assistance via mobile devices. As Finlay noted, “Having the ability to do that with personal devices rather than shared devices was the only conceptual way to keep everyone safe in the Covid era.” This solution not only complies with assistive hearing requirements but also enhances the overall learning experience by allowing students to tune in using their own headphones.
  
  
• TeamConnect Ceiling 2 (TCC 2)
  
  The St Philips Christian Education central office is a short walk from the ALC building. Here, St Philip’s uses TeamConnect Ceiling 2 for its boardroom and tertiary teaching spaces where off-site lecturers regularly address the trainee teachers. “Using the Sennheiser TCC 2 enables the speech within the room to be clearly heard at the other end,” comments Price. “It really brings the students and the remote lecturer into the one space cohesively.”

 

 

 

The integration of these Sennheiser technologies has profoundly impacted the learning environment at St Philip’s Christian College. The SpeechLine Digital Wireless microphones, for instance, have significantly reduced the strain on teachers, allowing them to speak naturally and be heard clearly across the room. “It’s about well-being for staff as well,” said Price. “They’re not yelling throughout the classrooms and they have the ability just to talk in a normal voice.”

 

The MobileConnect system has brought a new level of inclusivity, accommodating students with hearing difficulties and providing a more focused learning experience for all. This technology reflects the school’s forward-thinking approach and commitment to leveraging the latest advancements to benefit its students.

 

Additionally, the TeamConnect Ceiling 2 offers intelligible speech reproduction in spaces where communication is key: “When you’re in a large space like our teacher training classroom, crystal-clear audio is paramount,” notes David Price. High speech intelligibility in a training environment helps reduce listener fatigue and ultimately boosts comprehension rates among students.

 

 

 

The collaboration between St Philip’s Christian College and Innavate Integrated Solutions, underpinned by Sennheiser’s innovative audio technologies, has resulted in a transformative learning environment. The learning spaces are more akin to what you’d find in a university setting rather than K-12. David Price explains: “These ALC spaces are mostly used by our Year 11 and 12 students and we want to expose them to adult ways of learning. This isn’t ‘chalk ’n’ talk’ learning, this classroom format encourages critical thinking and sharing of knowledge.”

 

The success of the project highlights the importance of integrating high-quality, user-friendly technology in educational spaces to foster engagement, inclusivity, and excellence in learning.