School in store for iPhone style desks

Schools could be set for a Star Trek make-over thanks to the development of the world’s first interactive classroom by researchers at Durham University.

Smart 'multi-desks' offer new teaching opportunities

The team has linked up with manufacturers to design software, and desks that recognise multiple touches on the desktop, using vision systems that can see infrared light. The result is an interactive desk that functions in a similar way to Apple’s iPhone.

Dr Liz Burd, director of Active Learning in Computing at Durham University said: “Our vision is that every desk in school in 10 years time will be interactive. IT in schools is an exciting prospect - our system is very similar to the type of interface shown as a vision of the future in the TV series Star Trek!

The ‘classroom solution’ devised by the team - called SynergyNet – will have the new desk as the central component; the desks will be networked and linked to a main smartboard offering new opportunities for teaching and collaboration.

“We can now by-pass the ‘move-to-use’ whiteboard. The new desk can be both a screen and a keyboard, it can act like a multi-touch whiteboard and several students can use it at once.” Said Dr Burd. “It offers fantastic scope for more participative teaching and learning.

“The system will also boost equal access in school. In IT, we have found that males have been the dominant actors - interactive classrooms will encourage more females to take part in lessons. It will also enable more disabled students to participate in lessons and allow more personalised learning.”

£1.5 million has been awarded to Durham researchers who will design the system and software, and test it with students from primary and secondary schools, and university students over the next 4 years.