If you are “with the times,” then you may be so lucky as to have a Smart Board in your classroom. This interactive whiteboard is replacing the overhead projector in many classrooms across the United States. Smart Board technology in the classroom can enrich your curriculum by taking a typical lesson and turning it into a fun, more interactive one. Here are a few of the amazing advantages to utilizing technology in the classroom by having a smart board.
Smart Boards Enhance Students’ Learning Experience
In classrooms all over the country, Smart Boards are being installed because this amazing technology not only enhances the way teachers teach, but it also enhances the way students learn. It can provide students with an enriched learning experience by projecting visual elements. It also makes differentiated learning much easier because teachers are able to accommodate different learning styles. Visual learners are able to observe the whiteboard, while tactile learners can learn by touching the board. The touchscreen option allows teachers to run programs with the tap of their finger. This makes it not only easy to navigate for the teacher but for the students as well.
In addition to that, a student’s learning experience is enhanced by technology because of its ability for students to view diagrams, charts, videos, and more right on the huge screen in front of them. Their learning comes to life, and many students find it more fun to learn than ever before.
Smart Technology is Interactive
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of Smart Boards is their ability to be interactive. Students learn best when they are fully engaged, and hands-on learning is one of the best ways to do that. With this technology, every child in the classroom has the ability to utilize the Smart Board at the same time. For example, advanced Smart Boards have the ability for students to use their finger and write directly on them. Most Smart Boards have separate workspaces so several children can utilize the smart board at once. This interactivity provides students the ability to write, draw, or take notes via a tablet as well.
They Are Low Maintenance
Smart Boards are very easy to use and require very little maintenance. The boards do not use chalk or markers (which can be messy); you only use your finger or a special pen. You will also find that they are very easy to clean.
You Have Access to Online Resources
Smart technology offers learners easy access to online resources. They can be set up in the class so all students can view any website or video through a computer application. Teachers have access to a slew of knowledgeable databases that can help them reinforce their lessons. Students can easily access a wide range of resources to help them complete a project or conduct research.
They Are Environmentally Friendly
If you are looking to “go green,” here is your chance. Smart Boards are environmentally friendly because they eliminate the need for paper. There will be no need to photocopy and print a class set of papers. These interactive boards will help the environment in eliminating the tons and tons of wasted paper and ink that are dumped each year.
Smart Boards Allow for Technology Integration
One of the many benefits of Smart Boards is the ability for technology integration. Teachers are able to connect their computers, video cameras, digital cameras, microscopes, and pretty much anything else that you can think of to help aid in instruction.
Proven Success Rates
Using smart technology in the classroom can help raises test scores, improves student learning, enhances literacy, boosts attentiveness, and increases comprehension, to name a few.
Teachers report that the number one benefit that they see in their classrooms that use Smart Boards is an increase in student engagement. These interactive boards provide an extraordinary opportunity for teachers to create a classroom environment where students with different learning styles can learn from each other. This easy-to-learn technology ensures that both teachers and their students are developing the 21st century skills that they need in order to succeed in today’s world.
Smart boards (interactive whiteboards) are an important educational tool that helped many teachers keep remote students engaged through active learning during the pandemic. Now, they continue to be an important technology to serve in-person, hybrid and remote classrooms. They even help sales teams connect with customers all over the world and make presentations of all kinds more powerful.
As students returned to classrooms, the need for smart boards didn’t go away. In fact, this type of smart technology might be more essential than ever. How does a smart board work and what are the benefits?
Article at a glance:
What Is a Smart Board?
Smart boards — sometimes called interactive whiteboards or electronic whiteboards — are large display devices that are often wall mounted or attached to mobile carts. The devices allow users to interact, collaborate and manipulate data by touching the board or with a simple mouse click.
A smart board is an interactive tool for teachers and students that allows users to edit and annotate directly on the screen with a stylus or their finger. Users also have the capability to communicate, edit and interact with devices such as smartphones, tablets, Chromebooks, and computer screens.
Smart Board Benefits for Educators and Students
Imagine capturing all the content on a traditional blackboard, dry-erase board or paper flip chart and digitizing it so it can be sent to the entire classroom or other teachers. Or, what if students — whether remote or in the classroom — could answer questions, draw their ideas or write out calculations that their classmates and teacher can see? Then, the information can be instantly saved and stored.
Smart boards help students with different learning styles. Visual learners love the sharp display and interactive functions, and auditory learners can listen to multimedia content. Those who are more hands-on can write with their finger or a stylus, and the functionality allows teachers to address an entire group or focus on one-on-one learning.
Interactive tools help students learn and keep them engaged. These are just a few of the major benefits of smart board technology for educational environments. Many of these benefits also translate to the corporate world.
How Does a Smart Board Work?
Like old-fashioned, dry-erase whiteboards, smart boards are used to share messages, capture information and facilitate brainstorming and team collaboration. They have the same basic conventional features, but leverage PC technology and connect to the internet to dramatically increase the range of functions.
Their large digital flat displays make the devices easy to use and interact with, using capacitive touch with up to 20 points of contact. Handwriting and character recognition are generally included, along with a stylus, digital pen, and sometimes keyboards depending upon the user environment. They can use multi-media like PowerPoint presentations and different software apps to give end users specialized learning tools to engage students or colleagues.
For video conferencing, the newest devices integrate with Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Skype and Google apps. Remote students or workers can now collaborate and meet from anywhere. Onboard speakers are generally included, but the smart boards can also be equipped with optional audio output to enhance user experiences. You can even tie multiple units together to form a cohesive video messaging system or video wall — the ultimate digital projector.
The displays may include an optional full functioning PC controller. In addition, smart boards use many different types of inputs including USB, HDMI, DisplayPort Input, VGA, DVI-D, or direct connection to any network resource along with wireless functionality.
Considerations When Buying a Smart Board
Smart Board Size and Resolution
Choose the correct size for your room or application; the optimum viewing size and angle are important to reduce neck and eye strain. The most popular sizes range from 32 inches to 86 inches, but the environment determines which size is best. A classroom may require a board from 75 to 86 inches, while a smaller meeting room may only need a 55-inch board.
Smart Board Software
Software apps are an important aspect. If PC based, Windows and the Microsoft Suite are very versatile and extremely functional. Cloud services, educational or other industry-specific software that enhance functionality, connectivity, storage or performance are important items to consider. Be sure to research the software you need for your equipment, as software is crucial for providing superior functionality.
Smart Board Costs
The larger the smart board unit, the higher the acquisition cost. Consider the room and audience for your display before deciding. Resolution of 4k or better works well for nearly all education and business collaboration needs. A 55-inch board can be had for under $1,000, while a 98-inch board can cost more than $10,000.
RELATED: 4 Compelling Benefits of Leasing Equipment vs. Buying
Make sure you know what software you will need for your interactive whiteboard, as it can equal or even exceed the price of the actual display board. Specialized applications and programs can cost from $0 to over $600 per instance depending on the app. Cloud services or other software that enhances connectivity, storage or performance can cost between $150 and $1,500 per month.
Accessories and other extras for your smart board also add to the cost of your interactive display solution. Pens, pen trays and erasers can range from $25 to over $200. Wall mounts and rolling stands can range from $250 to well over $1,500. Extra cameras or camera upgrades can cost from $100 to $250 depending on resolution and features.
What is the Best Smart Board?
Ask your Gordon Flesch Company (GFC) Account Executive about the models offered and which are the best solution for your needs and investment (GFC offers Ricoh Interactive White Boards because we believe them to be reliable and perform exceptionally well for the investment). Also consider leasing vs. buying as this technology will change over a 60-month period. GFC Leasing offers an array of flexible financing options to help you keep your technology up to the latest standards.
Our experienced team will help you find the correct device for your needs that will last for many years. GFC helps guide clients from research and acquisition through installation and configuration.
If you’d like to learn more about the latest in interactive whiteboard technology, talk to the technology experts at Gordon Flesch Company. We have a range of interactive smart board options and technology analysts who will make sure your new whiteboards easily integrate and enhance your existing presentation technology.