Utilizing a Low-Cost, Laser-Driven Interactive System (LaDIS) to Improve Learning in Developing Rural Regions

This study proposes an innovation Laser-Driven Interactive System (LaDIS), utilizing general IWBs (Interactive Whiteboard) didactics, to support student learning for rural and developing regions. LaDIS is a system made to support traditional classroom practices between an instructor and a group of students. This invention effectively transforms a general projection screen into an IWBs. Accompanied by a projector, laser emitter, screen, PC (Personal Computer) and web cam, LaDIS provides a viable, efficient and economical solution for e-learning in classrooms. Students in the classroom are connected to a single computer and a shared screen. LaDIS is an extensible device, for use in any IWBs and interactive teaching software. This study engages 92 first-grade students enrolled in a 5-Year Junior College; these individuals are from two classes at a college of Taoyuan County, in Taiwan. Each class consists of 46 students. Classes are twelve hours in length, for a total of six weeks in the experimental course with different didactics. One class is the control group, and it adopts ordinary didactics. The other one is an experimental group, which adopts the innovation LaDIS didactics in class. The results indicate positive impacts of the innovation LaDIS on student learning performances. Most students are highly satisfied with the system and willing to use LaDIS because of its naturally superior interactive performance in classes. LaDIS provides a low-cost classroom tool, for developing regions financially unable to afford general IWBs equipment and didactics.