Assistive Tool 2

Roger Touchscreen Mic( by Phonak)

is a wireless microphone designed to enhance classroom communication for students with hearing loss. It transmits the teacher’s voice directly to students’ hearing aids or cochlear implants, ensuring clear audio even in noisy environments. 

The Roger Touchscreen Mic was developed by Phonak Communications AG, a Swiss company specializing in wireless communication solutions for individuals with hearing loss. Phonak Communications AG is a subsidiary of Sonova Holding AG, a global leader in hearing care technology based in Stafa, Switzerland.  

Designed to enhance classroom learning, the Roger Touchscreen Mic wirelessly transmits a speaker’s voice directly to listeners, offering significant improvements in speech understanding in noisy environments . 

While specific individual contributors to the development of the Roger Touchscreen Mic are not publicly documented, the device is a product of Phonak Communications AG’s expertise in wireless communication solutions.

How to use Roger Touchscreen Mic in teaching and learning in classroom?

1. Support for Teacher Instruction:

 The teacher wears the Roger Touchscreen Mic around their neck during lessons. The microphone captures the teacher’s voice and transmits it directly to students’ hearing aids or receivers. This ensures that students, especially those with hearing loss, can hear the teacher clearly regardless of where they are seated in the classroom or how noisy the environment is.

 2. Facilitating Group Work:

 During group activities, the mic can be placed in the center of a table. In this mode, it picks up voices from all directions, making it possible for students with hearing difficulties to hear their peers during discussions. This promotes equal participation and inclusion in collaborative learning.

 3. Enhancing Student Interaction: 

The mic can be passed between students during presentations or class discussions. This ensures that all voices are clearly transmitted to students using Roger receivers, allowing for full participation and better understanding of peer contributions in class.

 4. Streaming Multimedia Audio: 

The Roger Touchscreen Mic can connect to devices such as laptops, tablets, or smartboards via an audio cable. This allows audio from videos or digital content to be streamed directly to students’ hearing devices, making sure they don’t miss important auditory information during multimedia lessons.

 5. Mobility and Flexibility for Teachers:

 The microphone provides teachers with the freedom to move around the classroom without affecting sound quality for students. Because the mic maintains a wireless connection, students receive a consistent audio signal, which supports more dynamic and interactive teaching approaches.

Advantages of Roger Touchscreen Mic 

1. Improves Speech Understanding in Noise

The mic enhances speech clarity by transmitting the speaker’s voice directly to students’ hearing devices, even in noisy classrooms. This helps students with hearing loss understand better and reduces listening fatigue.

 2. Supports Inclusion and Participation

Students with hearing loss can fully engage in both teacher-led instruction and peer discussions. The device ensures they don’t miss important information, promoting equal learning opportunities.

 3. Adaptable for Different Learning Activities

It works well in various classroom settings—individual lessons, group work, and multimedia presentations. The mic can be worn, placed on a table, or connected to devices, making it versatile for daily use.

 4. Automatic and User-Friendly Operation

The Roger Touchscreen Mic features automatic microphone mode switching (e.g., from lanyard to table use), touchscreen controls, and simple pairing with receivers, making it easy for teachers and students to use.

 5. Wireless Freedom and Mobility

Teachers can move freely around the classroom while maintaining a strong, clear audio signal to the students. This supports interactive teaching without compromising sound quality.

Disadvantages of Roger Touchscreen Mic

1. High Cost

Roger technology is relatively expensive, including the microphone itself and the necessary receivers or hearing aids. This can be a financial burden for schools or families, especially if multiple devices are needed.

 2. Dependency on Technology

The system relies on functioning hardware and charged batteries. If the microphone or receiver fails, or if it’s not charged, students may miss important information, leading to disruption in learning.

 3. Training and Setup Requirements

Teachers and staff need proper training to use the system effectively. Without familiarity, the mic may be used incorrectly or not at all, reducing its benefits for students.

 4. Potential for Technical Issues

Connectivity problems, interference, or accidental muting can occur. These issues may be difficult to troubleshoot without technical support, which can interrupt classroom instruction.

 5. Limited Benefit Without Compatible Devices

The Roger Touchscreen Mic must be paired with compatible receivers or hearing aids. If a student’s hearing device is outdated or not compatible, they won’t benefit from the system.

How Roger Touchscreen Mic helps in inclusive classroom?

The Roger Touchscreen Mic promotes inclusivity in the classroom by ensuring that students with hearing loss can clearly hear and understand both teachers and peers. It transmits speech directly to their hearing aids or receivers, overcoming challenges like background noise, distance, and poor acoustics. This allows students to follow lessons, participate in group work, and engage in class discussions just like their hearing peers. By providing equal access to spoken communication, the Roger Touchscreen Mic helps create a more inclusive, supportive, and equitable learning environment for all students.

Conclusion:

The Roger Touchscreen Mic is a powerful tool that enhances accessibility and inclusion for students with hearing loss in educational settings. Its ability to transmit clear speech directly to hearing devices ensures that these students can fully engage in classroom activities, from teacher instruction to group discussions. The technology supports diverse learning environments, promotes equal participation, and reduces listening fatigue. However, challenges such as cost, reliance on compatible devices, and the need for proper training must be considered. Overall, the Roger Touchscreen Mic significantly contributes to inclusive education by breaking down communication barriers and helping all students thrive.

References

https://www.phonakpro.com/il/en/products/wireless-accessories/roger-touchscreen-mic/overview-roger-touchscreen-mic.html

https://hearingloop.com.au/shop/phonak-equipment/roger-touchscreen-transmitter/