**Star Trek desks improves maths in schools
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Researchers co-funded by EPSRC have developed interactive multi-user, multi-task smart desks which boost maths skills. A recent demonstration of children using the Star Trek style classroom attracted widespread press coverage.
Results from the three year SynergyNet project at Durham University show that pupils who used collaborative learning in the futuristic classroom increased their mathematical understanding. The multi-touch, multi-user desks improved performance compared to when pupils used paper to solve maths problems. Findings were published in the journal Learning and Instruction.
Lead researcher, Professor Liz Burd, 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.”
Researchers designed software and desks, integrating the new technology into the classroom fabric and furniture, before testing the classroom on 400 primary age pupils.
The desks and software recognise when groups of children touch the desktop by using vision systems that see infrared light. Desks are networked and linked to a main smartboard, with the teacher able to control tasks. The children can use desks as keyboard and screen whiteboards.
The story was featured on the BBC News, Mail Online and Reuters news agency as well as The Northern Echo. Online coverage featured in wired.co.uk, BCS.org, and redorbit.com. Videos of children using the desks can be seen on the SynergyNet blog and Youtube channels.
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 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of the £12 million Teaching and Learning Research Programme into Technology Enhanced Learning.