Analyzing the impact of classroom design factors on acoustic comfort in higher education hybrid learning environments

The vitality of hybrid learning classrooms has escalated due to enabling factors including advancements in technology, the demand for flexible education, and responses to global crises. However, the inadequate preparation for implementing hybrid classrooms raises concerns about students' ability to understand speech due to a lack of attention to the importance of acoustic quality. As a result, this study aims to investigate the impact of classroom design factors, such as ceiling height, occupancy, and spatial layout configuration, on hybrid classroom acoustic performance. The field measurement data acquired from multiple classrooms was utilized for analysis. The impact of design factors on acoustic parameters, which comprise reverberation time (RT), speech transmission index (STI), and speech clarity (C50), was analyzed through simulation using ODEON room acoustic software. The simulation was conducted based on two distinctive categorizations, which were determined by the size of the classrooms. The outcomes revealed that the design factors consisting of ceiling height, occupancy level, and spatial layout arrangements influenced the acoustic performance at various microphones' locations in hybrid learning classrooms. Although the analysis effectively upholds students' learning experience and performance, it is valuable for designers and educational institutions to establish adequate acoustic qualities for hybrid learning environments.