Mobile Audio for Physical Education Classes

Effective communication is essential for physical education teachers to engage and

teach their students. P.E. teachers work with diverse groups, often with varying

language backgrounds and ability levels, in both indoor and outdoor settings.

Clear verbal and nonverbal communication build trust and respect, making students feel

heard and helping them more effectively develop motor skills. It also supports in class

management and delivering clearer instruction. Mobile instructional audio systems can

increase communication effectiveness, boosting motivation, performance, and overall

classroom connection for all students.

Instructional audio refers to wireless audio systems that evenly distribute a speaker’s

voice throughout a space via an amplifier and speaker, making it easier for students to

hear and comprehend a teacher’s instruction. The Lightspeed Mobile PA, is a portable,

all-in-one system that provides flexibility for both indoor and outdoor use. This “grab

and go” system includes a wireless microphone that teachers and students use to

amplify their voices. It also includes Bluetooth technology.

During their instruction, physical education teachers frequently turn their bodies and

voices away from students, making it difficult for students to hear what they’re saying.

At the same time, noise from scuffling feet, bouncing balls, or chatter from other

students can quickly muffle and fatigue a teacher’s voice. Just as students rely on a

teacher’s voice in a traditional classroom for success, the same is true in physical

education classes.

Research over the past 40 years has highlighted the critical link between hearing clearly

and learning. Children need to hear at least 90 percent of what is said by their teachers

to fully absorb the information, and young students, particularly those aged 6 to 9, often

struggle to distinguish voices amid background noise. In educational

settings–especially in physical education, where noise from activity and movement can

overwhelm instruction–amplifying a teacher’s voice by 5 to 15 decibels above ambient

noise helps capture students’ attention by minimizing competing sounds and

movements.

The benefits extend beyond students. Researchers Joseph J. Smaldino and Carol Flexer

found that amplifying teachers’ voices with instructional audio systems improves vocal

endurance, reduces fatigue, and enhances voice clarity. These systems can also

decrease teacher absenteeism due to voice and throat problems by 8 – 13%.

In one school, a P.E. teacher had found that adding music to activities like jump rope,

square dancing, and basketball lessons motivated the children and encouraged them to

move more; however, it could be difficult to communicate with students over the music.

For a year, she piloted the Lightspeed Mobile PA in her K-6 classes, aiming to make

classes as accessible and inclusive for her students as possible. In doing so, she was

able to connect her phone via Bluetooth and stream music over the speaker. This

enabled her to continue playing music without interruption, allowing her to seamlessly

continue her lesson.

Instructional audio also allowed the teacher a better means to facilitate two-way

communication. By sharing her wireless microphone with other students, the teacher

was able to help her students engage more deeply in lessons and ensure they could be

heard by their peers. (Now this can be done even more effectively with the Lightspeed

Qball.) She reported that it also helped a hard-of-hearing kindergarten student

understand her better, without shouting or straining her voice. The Mobile PA also allow

teachers to maintain clear communication with their students if they split their class

into groups.

Instructional audio units are valuable not only for physical education courses but also

for a variety of other school settings. Educators can use them to make announcements

at games, in lunchrooms, or in lines, among other applications. Highlighting these

potential uses can help principals and school leaders recognize the versatility and

relevance of these portable units across different areas of the school.

Portable instructional audio technology, such as the Mobile PA, can transform teaching

and learning, helping physical education teachers overcome critical barriers to listening

and supercharge their lessons.