The findings from a study looking at the effectiveness of the programme to disperse tablet computers among Mathayom 1 (Grade 7) students are set to be released next month.

The King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) conducted the study, which took place in four pilot state-run schools.

Siam Charoenseang, an associate professor at KMUTT's Institute of Field Robotics, who led the study team, said once the study is finished, the results will be submitted to the Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) for consideration.

Mr Siam said the study mainly focused on academic achievement, teaching processes, assessments of the technology, and satisfaction from the students, teachers and parents.

He yesterday held a press conference to report the progress of the study conducted in Bangkok's Rajadhivas, Taweethapisek, Horwang, and Samsenwittayalai schools.

Obec had contacted KMUTT to conduct the study in October ahead of the procurement of about 1.8 million additional tablet computers.

Some of the devices will be distributed to Mathayom 1 students when the next school term starts in the middle of May.

Obec will soon ask the cabinet for consideration to set up an auction to procure the new batch of tablets.

Each school that took part in the study had received 60 tablet computers, he said. Two schools received the devices equipped with the Android operating system and the two others received tablets with the IOS operating system.

The tablets are used as a learning tool in five core subjects _ Thai, English, mathematics, sciences and social studies.

He said the preliminary study found that Mathayom 1 students were satisfied with using the tablets as part of their studies. The devices helped them to search online information and do presentation reports more effectively, Mr Siam said.

He said the tablets were most beneficial in the areas of creative thinking and teamwork.

He added, however, that the preliminary study found that Mathayom 1 students needed more learning applications for the devices.