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Classroom revolution launched at UEL in presence of Minister for Digital Britain

Monday 19 April 2010

Stephen Timms

Minister for Digital Britain, Stephen Timms, attends a demonstration event at the University of East London today, set to spark a revolution in the way new media is used in primary education.

The project, called Affect-Ed, is the culmination of a joint Bachelor’s Honours Degree by two students at the university, Stuart Norman and Matt Radbourne.

Inspired by a desire to get young children away from the traditional mouse, monitor, keyboard set-up and make computer-based learning increasingly interactive and enjoyable, it uses technologies such as infrared and GPS to take computer-based learning out into the playground or to project interactive images onto the classroom floor, hence creating a far more relaxed and collaborative approach to the traditional ‘one child per computer’ system.

Not only does the project provide innovative interactive learning but it does so on a shoestring budget, making it both accessible and appealing to the most budget-conscious schools.

Stephen Timms will be shown how the technology works at UEL’s Docklands campus, with the help of pupils from Earlham Primary School in Forest Gate. Stuart Norman was once a pupil at the school, which came forward at the start of the project to volunteer its assistance in the research process.

Stuart said: "The Digital Britain report discusses forging links between universities and businesses in order to boost the economy and help us out of the recession. What we are proposing with Affect-Ed is that these links also incorporate local schools. Today’s kids have the potential to be the digital pioneers and innovators of tomorrow as long as they are inspired at an early age, this is especially important within inner city boroughs like Newham where media-related employment is low".

Matt said: "Are children just being sat in front of a computer at school and if so is this the most effective way of learning? Parents are worried that children are becoming too reliant on computer technology. We want to prove that, if there is a problem, it isn't with computers per se; it's with the design of the e-learning that uses them. Affect-Ed shows how new media can be used to make computer-based learning more interactive, enjoyable and above all cost effective".

Notes to Editors

The University of East London (UEL) is a global learning community with over 28,000 students from over 120 countries world-wide. Our vision is to achieve recognition, both nationally and internationally, as a successful and inclusive regional university proud of its diversity, committed to new modes of learning which focus on students and enhance their employability, and renowned for our contribution to social, cultural and economic development, especially through our research and scholarship. We have a strong track-record in widening participation and working with industry.

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