Classroom noise levels that match the work.

A useful classroom noise level is not one universal number. It is a shared expectation that changes with the activity, the room, and the students.

Use activity levels, not fake precision

Laptop and tablet microphones are not calibrated sound-level meters. Their gain, placement, and noise processing vary, so a browser cannot honestly turn every reading into an accurate dB SPL value. RoomTone instead gives you a stable relative level from 0 to 100. Calibrate the thresholds against the sound you want in your own room.

Suggested starting points

• Silent work: independent reading, tests, writing, and reflection. Start with the lowest preset and use a 3-5 second recovery.
• Partner talk: students speak to one nearby person. This is the most useful general-purpose starting preset.
• Group work: table discussions, labs, and centers. Use a higher target, then lower sensitivity if the microphone sits close to one group.

Where to place the device

Place the microphone near the teaching area or near the center of the room, away from a projector fan, speaker, or one especially close group. Keep the screen visible enough that the class can respond without waiting for a verbal correction.

Use the traffic light as feedback, not punishment

Introduce what green, yellow, and red mean before starting. Yellow should be a calm early cue, not a warning of consequences. Red works best as a short “pause and reset” moment. The optional chime is rate-limited, but a visual-only signal is often less disruptive.

What RoomTone does not measure

RoomTone is not a hearing-safety instrument, occupational noise monitor, or calibrated acoustic meter. For regulatory, audiology, or long-term sound exposure decisions, use appropriate calibrated equipment and professional guidance.