Effects of Physical Noise on Instruction at One State University in Zimbabwe

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VI, June 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Effects of Physical Noise on Instruction at One State University in Zimbabwe

Mukandi Cosmas
School of Education, Technical Education Department, Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

Abstract:- This study sought to find out levels of disruption of teaching and learning through the effects of environmental noise at one state university in Zimbabwe. Emphasis was placed on soliciting information from the affected stakeholders who are primarily the students and the lecturers. Two schools from amongst five which comprise the state university are located in the industrial site. However, only one school was chosen for study mainly because the researcher teaches in that school. An auto-ethnographic design was used to decipher data from the sample. Participant observation was employed by the researcher as he is equally affected by the circumstances. Purposive sampling was used to choose respondents from both student teachers and their lecturers. An early childhood development education honours degree second-year students were specially chosen because they are taught one module by the researcher and also because they use two venues for instruction. Lecturers who teach large groups in the school were included in the study. Closed and open-ended questionnaires for both lecturers and students were used to gather data for the study. Amongst other, results show that because of the location of the school myriad forms of physical noises are negatively affecting the instructional process. Study recommends that school either relocates to a more suitable environment or heavily invest in noise-proofing it’s environ.

Keywords: physical noise; instructional process; communication; location.

I. INTRODUCTION

All communication are immersed in noise. Communication noise is anything that disturbs or hinder smooth transaction of messages from sender to receiver. Noise is a variable in the communication process which cannot be controlled in most instances. Gorai & Pal (2006) define noise as audible acoustical energy that adversely affects, or may affect the physiological and psychological well-being of people. Myers, Mottet, & Martin (2000) describe noise as an obstacle that disturbs the flow of communication and as many factors that hamper the smooth flow of message from the sender to audiences. Rothwell, (2004) says forms of communication noise include psychological noise, physical noise, physiological and semantic noise. All these forms of noise subtly, yet greatly influence our communication with others and are vitally important to anyone’s skills as a competent communicator. In all teaching and learning corridors across all levels, effective communication is in most cases emphasized.

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