Researchers designing and testing the
'classroom of the future' have found that multi-touch, multi-user
desks can boost skills in mathematics.
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This shows the SynergyNet classroom.
Credit: Durham University
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New results from a 3-year project
working with over 400 pupils, mostly 8-10 year olds, show that
collaborative learning increases both fluency and flexibility in
maths. It also shows that using an interactive 'smart' desk can have
benefits over doing mathematics on paper.
Using multi-touch desks in the new
classroom, the children were able to work together in new ways to
solve and answer questions and problems using inventive solutions.
Seeing what your friends are doing, and being able to fully
participate in group activities, offers new ways of working in class,
the researchers say. The 'Star Trek classroom' could also help
learning and teaching in other subjects.
During the project, the team found that
45% of students who used NumberNet increased in the number of unique
mathematical expressions they created after using NumberNet, compared
to 16% of students in the traditional paper-based activity.
Lead researcher, Professor Liz Burd,
School of Education, Durham University, said: "Our aim was to
encourage far higher levels of active student engagement, where
knowledge is obtained by sharing, problem-solving and creating,
rather than by passive listening. This classroom enables both active
engagement and equal access.
"We found our tables encouraged
students to collaborate more effectively. We were delighted to
observe groups of students enhancing others' understanding of
mathematical concepts. Such collaboration just did not happen when
students used paper-based approaches."
The Durham University team designed
software and desks that recognize multiple touches on the desktop
using vision systems that see infrared light. The project called
SynergyNet set out to integrate a fully collaborative system of
desks, building it into the fabric and furniture of the classroom.
The new desks with a 'multi-touch' surface are the central component,
and these are networked and linked to a main smartboard.
In terms of current teaching, the new
system means that the 'move-to-use' whiteboard is by-passed and the
new desks can be both screen and keyboard. The desks act like
multi-touch whiteboards and several students can use any one desk at
once.
The technology allows all students to
take part as opposed to one individual dominating.
Researcher, Emma Mercier, School of
Education, Durham University, said: "Cooperative learning works
very well in the new classroom because the pupils interact and learn
in a different way. The children really enjoy doing maths in this way
and are always disappointed when you turn the desks off!
"We can achieve fluency in maths
through practice, however, boosting a pupil's ability to find a range
of solutions to arithmetic questions is harder to teach. This
classroom can help teachers to use collaborative learning to improve
their pupils' flexibility in maths."
The teacher plays a key role in the
classroom and can send tasks to different tables to individuals and
groups. The teacher can also send one group's answers on to the next
group to work on and add to, or to the board for a class discussion.
A live feed of the desks goes directly to the teacher who can
intervene quickly to help an individual while allowing the group work
to continue.
Professor Steve Higgins said:
"Technology like this has enormous potential for teaching as it
can help the teacher to manage and to orchestrate the learning of
individuals and groups of learners to ensure they are both challenged
and supported so that they can learn effectively."
Such a classroom may be some way off
being a regular feature of schools across the world due to the costs
in setting it up, and the level of support needed to make it work,
however, in just 3 years the project team have noted major
improvements in the technology, and a reduction in costs.
The researchers also recognize that
task management in the class environment is an issue requiring
thought and planning, but the overall potential of the new classroom
for improved numeracy, learning, and on-going assessment is very
good.
The project has worked with 12
different schools in the North East. SynergyNet is one of eight
technology enhanced learning research projects funded by the ESRC and
EPSRC as part of the £12M Teaching and Learning Research Programme
into Technology Enhanced Learning.
The project is an inter-disciplinary
collaboration at Durham University between the School of Education,
the Department of Psychology and the Department of Computer Science.
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