To support our work in Literacy I have created a simple set of images and video in the SMART Table Media application. This a basic lightbox app that is often demonstrated on multi-touch products. Although it does a basic job, the job this application does is always incredible to watch. Images can be freely moved, rotated and resized. Video has the same function and the twists, turns and magnification that goes on can be done as the video is playing without any interruption.
These are some short films I took today of four children working with this application. The images and video are from the Victorian period, primary and secondary sources of information. I asked them to explore the collection and make some notes about what they find out from the media. As a final discussion point they sorted the images and video into primary and secondary sources; real photos and video or not.
Media App, Manipulating Images and Video on the SMART Table (1) from Tom Barrett on Vimeo.
Media App, Manipulating Images and Video on the SMART Table (2) from Tom Barrett on Vimeo.
Media App, Manipulating Images and Video on the SMART Table (3) from Tom Barrett on Vimeo.
Media App, Manipulating Images and Video on the SMART Table (4) from Tom Barrett on Vimeo.
Media App, Manipulating Images and Video on the SMART Table (5) from Tom Barrett on Vimeo.
This activity ran for about 20 minutes and is the sort of depth that I have been looking for. I combined some pencil and paper note taking with the high tech access to the media, which worked for us. The children had room to work around the table and as I have said it is comfortable with four users.
Although there are many other applications to explore with multi-touch the Media application has my attention at the moment due the unique interaction with images and film that you experience when at the table. It is the blurring of that physical and digital space that I am intrigued with. The children passed each other video footage. If there is a way this can be done in other available computing environments then I don’t know about it. We certainly would not get the same level of intuitive connection with lots of media as you can when working in multi-touch.
It feels like this is an extremely unique and powerful feature of the multi-touch lightbox applications, whether on a SMART Table or not. One feature that provides children with amazing access to work with digital video in a unique way. The process just facilitates the learning intentions as it is so simple, hopefully you can see that from the footage. Film clips can be placed alongside each for comparisons; moved and sorted according to a custom background or even moved into a shared storyboard format. Furthermore a collection of images and video could be used in early years classrooms as a precursor to writing about an event or trip that took place.
It is the heightened sense of access and of sharing the digital imagery, combined with the fluid resize, rotate and placement controls you have that makes it a powerful learning tool.
Hi Rob
I do not know of any secondary examples. The SMART Table has been marketed from the outset as a nursery/early years device. Which I think is wrong. It is a multi-touch device – it’s the content that makes it more or less age appropriate.
Of course it could be used in any sector it just needs quality, engaging content written for it.
The only down side is the physical space and how older and bigger children would share that space. I have figured that a maximum of 4 of my Year 5s is ideal – both in terms of physical around the table space and in terms of screen real estate.
Hope that helps
Tom – is the SMART table purely used for primary education? Although I have a vague idea of the principles I haven’t seen it in action and couldn’t be at BETT – do you know of any examples of its use in secondary education?? Rob
The intuitive nature hopefully comes across in the video but is even more apparent when watching for real.
They had no orientation at all, they just got on with it. Not a single word of what you can do. Perhaps speaks volumes for this kind of technology.
Thanks for the comment Matt – are you working in a primary school or secondary? Is it a pilot or a bought unit? Please let me know how it works out for you?
Thanks Oliver – I think that it can look gimmicky, tech for tech’s sake if it is not the learning that has true clarity. I want the kids to get beyond the obvious novelty and be involved with activities that have true depth and are enhanced by the technology.
you can clealryget a sense of the high level of collaboration the students are engaging in. The movements are so natural, fluid and very fast. And clealry the technology is not getting in the way. Can I ask – did they have any orientating sessions before you let them loose on it?
That is just too good. A Smart Table in the class room and you are blazing the trail. The mind boggles at further uses for this.
I must say that the first thought came in to my mind is… Crap! this is impossible.. But afterward… The thought changed! Crap this good and possible! thanks Tom for giving me that huge turn of ideas!
Tom your the Best!
Excellent productive use of the Table, am looking forward to playing with mine now it has finally landed.
Have to say I thought this application was a bit of a gimmick, especially with this age group, when I saw it at BETT. However, that activity looks great, and the discussion and comparison of video it generated is a really good use of the technology. Eating my hat right now =).
Look forward to following your continuing work!