Generation Y has witnessed the complete overhaul of every sector. For instance, they saw a decline of conventional telephones and the rise of pagers, mobile phones, and eventually, smartphones. Similarly, the swooping wave of technology had intercepted the way education was imparted in the early 1990s.
SMART Board or Interactive White Boards (IWB) was an innovative idea evolved by SMART Technologies under the leadership of David Martin and Nancy Knowlton in 1987. The first-generation smart board was integrated with an LCD and optimized with supporting software.
The IWB can act as an independent computer or project whatever is displayed by the host through its computer and let others engage with the content through a stylus or fingers. It is gradually finding its way into the classrooms as smartboard costs are becoming affordable.
Uses of SmartBoard in Classroom Teaching
The inclusion of smart boards as a conduit of imparting education has successfully communicated with the younger students. Some exquisite features can allow the teachers to make students understand the concept better. Teachers can:-
- Play re-recorded or TTS sound and multimedia with icons displayed on the screen
- Engage the students in educational fun and learn methodology
- Design content with simulations and graphics
- Copy-paste the text, take a screenshot of the display and draw with a stylus or finger
- Save the lecture and notes for further use
The subject matter relating to a subject may be saved and reviewed later for discussions and recapitulation. The class notes and recordings can be uploaded on the website to access the lecture in case they missed it.
Why smart board are a good option for younger students
Teaching is a two-way process. Smartboard allows students and teachers to interact effectively. It helps in maintaining and open new lines of communication. Students feel comfortable in putting across their ideas through images, audios, and video.
They can comprehend and memorize things better with the help of animations and 3D. Learning through a smartboard stimulated cognitive thinking as it can support visual, auditory, spatial, and kinaesthetic. It piques the curiosity of the children and excites them. Students are just not sitting and listening but moving and touching.
Children feel involved and energetic when their engagement is fostered and encouraged by their physical and mental involvement. It builds their confidence and self-esteem. Their vistas of mind open to let creativity take over, paving the way for them to become self-sufficient.
Beneficial for increasing the attention span and concentration
In the journey of learning, the most challenging thing for a teacher is to keep their pupil engaged and active during the course of the class. Incorporating smart boards in the classroom increases the attention span of the children. When teachers and students collaborate and share ideas through the board, it generates a healthy environment for group discussion and questioning.
Introducing the lesson and revision
IWBs are ideal devices for introducing a lesson and determining prior knowledge of the class on the subject. For instance, Chris Preston published a study in Teaching Science magazine. In this, children were asked to draw on the smart board about a not watered plant for many days. Through their drawings, the teacher concluded which child predicted the result in a better manner.
Creating step-by-step guides for better understanding
A student’s mind is very inexperienced when doing something that it did not do before. So, instead of handing them a guide, a power-point presentation or animation would enable children to assimilate and process the information. Smartboards are also effective in monitoring the activities and collating the results for each child.
Making children comfortable with the evolving technology
If children are exposed to new-found developments and tech-marvels in their initial years, it becomes beneficial for them to explore their creativity. They should not be kept aloof when they can easily be involved with the technology.
Giving each child a personal experience
A study named “The Importance of using Smart Boards in Teaching Small EFL Classes” found that a child can score 3% higher if he feels he is involved exclusively in the class. Moreover, the study states that the probability of children scoring ‘A’ in the class becomes 52% if children are involved personally. This can be achieved by introducing a smart board and giving children a personal experience.
