Researchers have developed a new technology that can improve teaching and learning processes in school.
Lead researcher, Professor Liz Burd and colleagues looked at 400 students aged between eight and 10 years and found multi-touch, multi-user desks or "Star Trek classrooms" effective in improving their learning process. The smart classes were helpful particularly in boosting math skills.
The software and desks were developed by a team of researchers from Durham University. The project known as SynergyNet, constructed on the fabric and furniture of a classroom, combining a fully joint system of desks which operated like multi-touch whiteboards.
The main component of the system, the multi-touch surface, was connected to a smartboard and could be used simultaneously by many students.
The joint learning process involved in "Star Trek classroom," was found more effective than the traditional paper-based activities and it enabled students to work in groups, improving both fluency and flexibility in math.
"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," Burd said in a news release. "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 teachers can also easily access the activities of the desks, without interrupting the group work.
"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!" researcher Emma Mercier, said. "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."
Findings of the study have been published in the journal, Learning and Instruction.
Researchers have developed a new technology that can improve teaching and learning process in school.
