The need for more information and communication technology (ICT)-based courses has given rise to the concept of 'classroom of the future'.
Introduced by the British Council, the concept aims to integrate computers into classrooms in order to allow for greater flexibility in the way classrooms are used and meet the increasing need for IT-based lessons. In the multimedia classroom, one personal computer, built into the trapezoidal table, is shared by three students.
Martin Peacock, the council's manager of resources and IT (English Language Centre), said: 'In the past, students could not have their own computers in class because the traditional set of computer was big and unsuitable for ordinary teaching.
'If particular software was needed, teachers had to compete [with other colleagues] to book the computer rooms for ICT lessons.
'But with the newly designed computers, more classroom space is saved but greater flexibility is provided.' The council now has two multimedia classrooms. Installed with four trapezoidal tables and eight computer sets, each room caters for 24 students.
'We call it 'classroom of the future' as we see it is the way how the classroom in future will be constructed - not only us, but every school in the SAR facing the problem of having limited space but rising demand for the use of IT,' Mr Peacock said.
Specialist teacher Justin Kernot said the multimedia classroom allowed for more interaction - both between students and him and among students themselves.
