Study title

United Kingdom

Individual

This research project included a substantive element of computer engineering. At the time of the project commencing multi-touch tables were not available for purchase; to ensure the tables worked efficiently we worked with two companies to design and build them. NUI supported the development of the multi-touch hardware while NESS ensured that the build matched the needs of multi-touch and was robust for school use. The software was co-developed alongside the hardware, as was the data collection software and associated data collection infrastructure (camera etc.). Research outcomes associated with technologies used within the software design, technical solutions identified and specific optimizations were collected during the developmental phase and disseminated as appropriate.The initial education research focused on whether using multi-touch technology influenced the learning or collaboration processes for groups of students. Using a within- and between-subjects design, groups of students completed tasks on multi-touch tables and paper. Video data was collected and analyzed using emergent and pre-existing coding schemes to determine whether there were differences in the interaction and reasoning processes across condition. Later studies, which focused on the development of the classroom required a design research approach to allow for the iterative design and testing of the learning opportunities (Cobb et al, 2003; Shavelson, et al, 2003). These studies used a combination of designs, including experimental design, comparing students using the multi-touch classroom with students working on traditional activities in their own classroom, observational studies and video-analysis of groups learning in the multi-touch classroom, and interviews and surveys of reactions to using the classroom and prior experiences with collaborative work.The psychology team used a within-subjects experimental design to explore differences in the way groups of students worked when they completed tasks on a multi-touch table, paper and traditional desktop. Participants were also tested prior to the study, and grouped according to measures of working memory, to allow for the comparison of processes in groups with all high, all low, or mixed levels of working memory.The methods used are also described in the four publications listed below.