Samsung Electronics today announced the research findings from teachers and 3,000 pupils across the UK who have participated in its Digital Classroom programme over the past three years. Samsung has been supporting education as a global cause since 2013 and the Digital Classroom initiative was launched in order to explore the impact technology has on teaching and learning, helping to address the digital skills gap in the UK.

Feedback from the schools participating in the programme reveals that pupils demonstrated high engagement with lessons, were more motivated and showed marked improvement in grade attainment. Teacher confidence also improved and teaching practices changed over time, with children increasingly able to work independently and collaboratively. The three-year initiative has involved establishing Digital Classrooms in 15 primary schools in challenging circumstances across the UK. Students and teachers were equipped with a suite of classroom technology including tablets, Chromebooks, laptops and an interactive whiteboard, as well as providing key training for teachers and ongoing technical support, to create an enhanced learning environment.

The research findings underpin Samsung’s belief that the provision of technology acts as a facilitator for fueling natural curiosity and a desire to learn. Bringing technology into the classroom had a positive influence on pupils’ digital skill development, enhancing their learning experience and increasing pupil collaboration and confidence:

• 89% of pupils believe that the equipment helped them to learn new digital skills, with 81% now finding it easier to do a variety of tasks on computers and 79% saying they work better with their classmates.
• Pupils confidence increased, with nearly 9 in 10 (88%) saying they felt more equipped for their next academic years of study.

Moreover, the findings highlight the great improvements that pupils’ have made in developing their digital skills between the start and the end of the 2015/16 academic year:

• Over half (57%) are writing code more frequently and are finding it easier to write code on a computer or tablet, compared to 28% at the start of the year
• 83% of pupils now find using apps an effective and easy way to learn new things, compared to 64% at the start of the year
• Knowledge of online safety has also improved, with 80% of pupils now more aware of how to stay safe on the internet, compared to 60% at the start of the year
• Over four-fifths (82%) find a computer or tablet helpful when working with other students in a team, compared to 70% at the start of the year

The Digital Classroom also had a disproportionality positive effect on children who needed extra support and motivation. Teachers reported that the Digital Classroom increased flexibility, gave them the capacity to differentiate learning and made lessons far more inclusive. By making work more attractive, this served to boost pupils’ independence, confidence and pride. The use of reading apps has helped children with dyslexia feel equal in the classroom while translation tools have helped those for whom English is a second language.

Bede Community Primary School, in Gateshead, Newcastle, is one of the schools which was selected to become a part of the Digital Classroom programme. Three years on since launching the classroom, teachers have been amazed with how the technology has transformed their lessons.

Andrew Riley from Bede Community Primary School commented: “One of the greatest impacts of the Samsung Digital Classroom has been on pupils’ personal growth and maturity, both in the classroom and outside of school. The programme has helped teachers to cultivate independence and build confidence amongst pupils by encouraging ownership of learning outcomes and self-directed learning. Here at Bede School, we feel there is a very clear relationship between academic achievement and the digital classroom, with every pupil who has taken part in lessons in the classroom progressing by at least two levels. Pupils are now more open and ready to learn in the classroom, which has meant the pace of learning has increased.”

Aleyne Johnson, Head of Government Relations and Citizenship, Samsung UK said: “We are delighted by the fantastic results generated by the Samsung Digital Classroom initiative, with the last three years showing a positive shift in pupil’s attitudes to learning as a result of integrating more technology into lessons. Whilst we have come a long way, it’s not over yet, and we are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners and many educational initiatives, to create innovative digital learning environments across to the UK to support and invest in the workforce of tomorrow.”

Discover the Samsung Digital Classroom at a glance below!

Samsung Pay Series: Part 2

Read Part 1

It may be the most important development in the world of commerce in a generation, and it’s almost here.

Later this year, Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge users in the United States and South Korea will receive a software update that makes the Samsung Pay app available. This will be an industry disruptor in the world of mobile payments because it will become easier than ever for users to make purchases using their mobile device. Unlike competing mobile payment systems, Samsung Pay will not make users wait for their favorite local stores to upgrade to Near Field Communication (NFC) point of sale systems. Samsung’s proprietary Magnetic Stripe Transmission (MST) technology turns any card reader on a point of sale system into a contactless payment receiver, meaning that Samsung Pay can work anywhere a credit or debit card is accepted.

Since it is an acceptable form of payment at 90% of retailers in the U.S. (according to internal research), Samsung Pay will encourage more users than ever before to adopt mobile payments, signaling a shift in the way people pay for in-store purchases. The smooth user experience is a big part of Samsung Pay’s appeal, too.

Using Samsung Pay, users can load their credit and debit cards onto their device, eliminating the need to carry physical cards. The card loading process involves either scanning the credit card with the phone’s camera or inputting the relevant payment information manually. The scanned image is not stored in the device and is instantly removed. The second step is to verify the identity of the card holder by either SMS, email, phone call or through a partner banking app. (This verification depends on the policies and processes of each Card Network.)

Samsung has partnered with MasterCard, Visa, Synchrony, as well as a growing number of banks and credit unions to offer debit, credit, and private label cards on Samsung Pay. At the cash register, users will pull up the Samsung Pay app by swiping upward, select a card, authenticate the their identity using a fingerprint, and then tap the device on the point of sale terminal. For traditional magnetic stripe readers, users will tap their phone on top of the card reader slot. The Magnetic Secure Transmission (MST) technology sends a signal to the card reader which emulates a physical card swipe. The process for NFC payments is virtually identical, with users simply required to tap their phone near the NFC receiver. In fact, the device will automatically detect what sort of terminal is being used and adjust accordingly.

Users will be able to leave the physical cards at home and go out shopping with just their Samsung phone. The process is as quick and easy as paying with a credit card. In addition, users may be able to load other types of cards into their Samsung Pay digital wallets, such as gift cards and loyalty cards.