As a type of accountability during this degree program, it is vital to look back at the goals that I set out for myself and evaluate my success in achieving them. The mastery journal also serves as a chance for me to conduct a personal debrief after each class.
My first goal for the Innovative Work Environments course was to dig deeper into sound and its impact on work environments, both positive and negative. Though I was well-versed in this field before the class began, the material presented initiated considerable added external research within the area of sound and conducive work environments. I now have even more confidence that I can effectively consult organizations in the proper usage and suppression of audio within their work environments.
The Coronavirus pandemic has offered many challenges, but at the same time, it increased accessibility to like-minded professionals that regularly are unable to take on additional projects. This past month I continued to take advantage of this. Instead of one-on-one conversations (like I conducted last month), I attended a virtual trade show/conference called InfoComm that sparked many new ideas and areas for further research. InfoComm is the largest audio and visual trade show in North America, and this year it was held online. During the conference discussions, I expected to hear about alternate methodologies for sound delivery (my second objective). However, an overwhelming majority of the content traditionally focused on that area, instead shifted to pandemic related problem-solving and best practices upon reopening/returning to office environments. These discussions led me to think about several new or heightened audio issues (and potential resolutions) that come with the current style of working we are all facing.
The Innovative Work Environments course helped me to expand the depth of my thinking regarding workplace environments. This class helped turn a side interest of mine into a topic that is consistent on my mind lately (in the best way possible). My third goal was to gauge the interest of companies in redesigning their sonic footprint(s). Interestingly, the pandemic has expedited many conversations on audio/acoustics within work environments and increased the interest among corporate executives. I plan to be a part of the larger conversation and to consult within this arena as opportunities arise.
Doron Reizes' Mastery Journal 