Walk into a classroom today and you might be impressed by the iPads, interactive touch-screen whiteboards, and contactless cards that allow children to borrow library books or pay for their lunch with the wave of a hand. But what will the classroom of the future look like?
The BETT show in London is where much of the best technology for the world’s classrooms makes its debut, and this year’s event is overrun with screens of every size – from massive wall projectors and touch-tables that can be used by several people at once, to pocket-sized tablets that allow children to learn independently both in the classroom and at home.
The sheer amount of choice is overwhelming. While some claim that tablets (including but not limited to iPads) are the future of teaching, others argue that desktop-style workstations with large touch-screens and keyboards are more appropriate for the classroom, because they can be pre-configured and controlled by the teacher, and there is less risk of them being left on the bus.
HP Slate 21 Pro Android all-in-one device
Regardless of display size, however, screens are becoming ubiquitous in classrooms, opening up a myriad of new ways for teachers to engage with pupils. This is not just about uploading the same old lessons and worksheets to a computer and sending them out to the class, but taking full advantage of the interactive capabilities of the technology at hand.
“The last thing that anybody wants is a generation of internet drones,” said Gus Schmedlen, VP of Education at HP. “That’s why collaboration and communication are incredibly important.”
Many of the companies exhibiting at BETT are showing off software that allows teachers to remotely control student applications, web access and external devices. For example, a teacher could send a test from their desktop to all of their students' devices simultaneously, track responses and scores in real-time, and then broadcast results out to each student.
This not only ensures that students are focused on the task at hand, by removing unwanted distractions, but also enables teachers to give instant feedback, and pick examples to show to the rest of the class.
The i-rise desk lets a teacher transform a clear flat workspace into a-state-of-the art ICT platform
Meanwhile, new ways are emerging for teachers and pupils to interact with technology. Intel described how 3D cameras that can recognise sweeping hand and arm gestures could enable more natural navigation through three-dimensional models and simulations, while automated speech recognition could transform language learning, through pronunciation coaching and recitation practice.
"We have technology that can recognise fingertips so, without touching the screen at all, you can manipulate a 3D object and move it around to different positions – so you could see planets orbiting the sun and move it around to get a closer look a Jupiter, and it's almost like you're holding the whole solar system in you hands," said Eric Cooper, senior research engineer at Intel.
Several companies are also exploring the use of augmented reality applications in the classroom, which add information and meaning to a real object or place by overlaying computer-generated contextual data. This can help deepen a pupil's understanding of the subject. So instead of simply reading a passage from the Magna Carta in a text book, for example, they could use a smartphone to scan the page and bring up a digital image of the original manuscript.
Other companies are even looking at how greater connectivity within the classrooom can be used to improve the learning environment. Intel, for example, is looking at how 'affective computing' can be used to recognise individual learners' expressions of excitement, frustration and boredom, helping teachers to recognise patterns of student motivation.
Meanwhile, the UK's Technology Strategy Board (TSB) is running a pilot scheme in eight schools around the country to define how the 'Internet of Things' can enhance learning in science, technology, and geography. The project aims to encourage teachers and students to take a more active role in creating and sharing digital content in schools.
Two students use a datalogging device to monitor conditions in a greenhouse at Writhlington School in Radstock
Use of specialist technology is also growing in particular subject areas. For example, Data Harvest shows off an impressive array of science and technology equipment ranging from data logging and control systems to stand-alone science products and construction sets. GlobiSens' Labdisc data logger also aims to provide a 'complete lab in the palm of your hand'.
Meanwhile, inventions like the Raspberry Pi are transforming the teaching of computing, helping children to understand the basics of programming, and inventions like Aldebaran's Nao programmable humanoid robot let computer science students put their coding skills to the test.
Aldebaran's Nao programmable humanoid robot
There is even a place for wearable devices, such as smart-watches and augmented reality glasses, in schools of the future, according to Schmedlen. A smartwatch, for example, is non-invasive and always on, and can act as a schedule planner, a lunch card, and a location-tracking device, to help students find their way to their next lesson.
While all of this might seem a long way off, many of the technologies in question are already being tested in classrooms around the world. HP recently created its own 'classroom on the future' in a school in Taipei, Taiwan, demonstrating how interactive and flexible technology can result in better engagement from pupils:
There are, of course, both security and financial considerations to take into account when it comes to the use of connected devices in schools. Many of these devices do not come cheap, and schools need to be careful to implement web controls to prevent pupils from accessing inappropriate content, and protect them from cyber bullying.
As time goes on, however, prices will fall, and schools will start embracing the opportunities created by more connected classrooms and a broader range of smart devices. Ultimately, this will not only help students to engage in learning, but provide them with the skills they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world.