Beam me to my next lesson, sir; STAR TREK-STYLE TREATMENT LIKELY FOR PUPILS.

Byline: By NICOLA JUNCAR Education Reporter

TIME was when a school desk was all inkpots and scratched graffiti.

Down the years generations of pupils have lifted the wooden lids to store their books and hide notes scrawled to their pals.

But those days may soon be gone.

Classrooms could be given a Star Trek-style makeover as North East scientists have developed the world's first interactive desk.

Experts at Durham University have created hi-tech learning equipment which could see the humble table top replaced by a tool that looks and acts like an Apple iPhone.

Researchers at the university's Technology-Enhanced Learning Research Group, (TEL), watched how students and teachers interact in lessons and wondered how computer technology could be used to improve classes.

They set about designing an interactive classroom tool, which they have called SynergyNet, which aims to promote learning through sharing, problem solving and creating.

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.

"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.

"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."

The team has linked up with manufacturers to design software and desks that recognise multiple touches on the desktop.

Currently, the majority of pupils only get to use computers in IT lessons and, in many schools, pupils still have to share the equipment as there are not enough computers to go round.

SynergyNet, however, aims to integrate computer skills into other subjects and several students will be able to work together at a desk. This is because the desks allow simultaneous screen contact by multiple users using fingers or pens. A single work-desk can operate as a set of individual work spaces or as a large screen allowing students to co-operate on a task.

TEL is the largest funded research study to look at multi-touch interactive systems for education.

The Durham researchers were awarded pounds 1.5m to design the system and software. They will now test it with pupils from primary and secondary schools, as well as university students, over the next four years.

After testing the system with students of all ages, the software will be available to schools free.

Dr Andrew Hatch from TEL added: "The computer becomes part of the desk. It's a practical change that will provide a creative interface for life-long learning for students."

CAPTION(S):

SPACE AGE: James Alderson, seven, from Our Lady Queen of Martyrs School, tries out an interactive desk and, inset, Dr Liz Burd, Director of Active Learning in Computing with pupils PICTURES: NORTH NEWS www.chroniclelive.co.uk/buyaphoto ref: 01355374