Week+5

=Week 5: Acoustics=

Week 5 Objectives

 * By the end of Week 5, students will have:
 * been introduced to the topic of controlling sound within buildings
 * read and listened about the uses and applications of Acoustics in Architecture and Urban Design
 * read and discussed book descriptions and book reviews about Architectural Acoustics in [|Amazon]
 * watched and discussed the video "Noise Kills"
 * created a page dedicated to Acoustics in their wikispaces
 * learned vocabulary related to Acoustics
 * added new words to the glossary in Moodle ||

1. Introduction to the Unit of Acoustics (Group work/ whole-class discussion)
According to the information published in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, [|Architectural Acoustics] is conceived as the science of controlling sound within buildings. The first application of architectural acoustics was in the design of [|opera houses] and then [|concert halls]. More widely, noise suppression is critical in the design of multi-unit dwellings and business premises that generate significant noise, including music venues like bars. The more mundane design of [|workplaces] has implications for [|noise health effects]. Do you ever think about controlling sound when you work in your design projects?

Part I:
After watching the video below (click on the image), open Yahoo Messenger and start a chat with __a__ classmate to discuss the answers to these questions. Pay special attention to:
 * 1) the content of your answers
 * 2) taking turns in the discussion (do not monopolize turns)
 * 3) the language you use while chatting (vocabulary and structure)
 * QUESTIONS:**
 * Have you ever thought about the effects that Architectural Acoustics can produce in the perception people have of certain places (residential building, office building, school, university, hospital, museum, library, church, gallery, concert hall or opera house)
 * Did you know that elevated noise levels create stress, increase workplace accident rates, and stimulate aggression and other anti-social behaviors? (Give examples)
 * Did you know that unwanted noise in buildings can be prevented, reduced or controlled just by thinking about the acoustics of your designs and plans? How is that?
 * What are the unwanted noises people can be exposed to in different places? Give examples... What about in your own house?
 * Watch this video and discuss its content with a classmate. What is the message the video is expected to transmit?
 * Upload chatlog to the corresponding forum in Moodle: [|Chat 1 on Acoustics].



= =

Reading Task 1 (5 pts)

 * In pais, Go to [|www.amazon.com] or visit any web site where book reviews in English are available, and try to find 2 different books dealing with Architectural Acoustics or Urban Acoustics that might interest you.
 * Read and discuss both book descriptions and book reviews with your partner.
 * Discuss with your partner why you consider these two books may be useful in your careers, explain if you would be interested in consulting those two books or not and why.
 * State whether you would buy those books or not and explain why.
 * In pairs and in your own words, write 2 paragraphs (1 for each book) reporting on the 2 books you found on the web, express your opinion about them, your interest or uninterest in those books, and a recommendation for your classmates on the use of those two books. (Word document)
 * Remember to add the links to the book reviews you found to your document.
 * Upload your word document to the corresponding forum in Moodle: [|Reading Task 1 (5 pts).]
 * Once your paragraphs have been corrected by your teacher, and edited by you in Moodle, open a new page in your Wikis, name it "Acoustics", and paste your 2 paragraphs on the two books there. Write a brief introduction to the page.
 * Remember to add images, links, photos, etc to your pages to make them look more attractive to the public.