Kai Yoshida

Interactive whiteboards began gaining popularity in the late 1990s. One of the leading companies was SMART Technologies, which created the SMART Board.

From blackboards in the 1800s to whiteboards in the 1960s, technological advancements enabled the creation of interactive whiteboards in the 1990s.

Xerox PARC invented the first interactive whiteboard in 1990, allowing people to directly connect their computers to a board while maintaining regular whiteboard capabilities. In 1991 the leading interactive whiteboard company, SMART Technologies, released its first product, the SMART Board. Initially, these boards were geared towards offices and small meetings. However, in the late 90s, interactive whiteboard companies adjusted the target consumers towards schools.

Thousands of schools across the world, including Carlmont, thought this new device would revolutionize education.

On paper, interactive whiteboards seemed like the real deal. Connecting a computer straight to the front of the classroom makes lesson planning much quicker and simpler. Teachers can immediately display notes on PowerPoint presentations without having to write them out during a lecture. But in reality, how would they perform?  

“My first impression of the SMART Board was being terrified and confused, as I usually am over new technology, but as I gradually learned how to use it, I felt more comfortable with it. Pre-pandemic, I was using it every day in class, all day long,” said David Gomez, a history teacher at Carlmont.

SMART Boards came with steep learning curves for many teachers. Once they overcame this, interactive whiteboards began to show their worth. Along with simpler lesson planning, a study in 2009 showed an increase in student engagement, suggesting that it was easier for students to participate and made class more enjoyable.

“The pros of a SMART Board are the ability to access information and materials from online sources and display them in front of the class; particularly things which previously had to be photocopied and distributed,” Gomez said. “Students use it all the time for presentations and projects as well.”

The Pros and cons of smart boards by Kai Yoshida

In addition, interactive whiteboards help many students grasp concepts much quicker through increased engagement and visual learning. According to the International Institute for Science, Technology, and Education (IISTE), increased engagement stimulates thinking and leads to an increased personal understanding of concepts. Furthermore, according to the Social Science Research Network (SSRN), 65% of the population are visual learners, and SMART Boards can display high-resolution photos and graphics.

“I think SMART Boards are really helpful because it helps our teachers stay organized, which helps us learn better because we can clearly see and understand what they are teaching us,” said Saya Deshpande, a junior.

However, there are two significant drawbacks to SMART Boards. The first one is the price. Interactive whiteboards do not come cheap; they could cost anywhere from $700 to north of $3000. Installation coupled with maintenance could easily set back a school tens of thousands of dollars. The second drawback is the actual functionality of the boards. Interactive whiteboards quickly become outdated, but replacement is not an option because of the cost. Many of Carlmont’s SMART Boards are now over a decade old, which causes them to become defective, and writing on them becomes inconvenient. They often lag and are inaccurate, so teachers tend to write on adjacent whiteboards and only use the SMART Board as a projector.

“I don’t like how SMART Boards are unreliable and that teachers often waste time by switching between the whiteboard and SMART Board pens and needing to fix the writing on the board when it glitches,” Deshpande said.

Many question the importance of interactive whiteboards since many teachers avoid interacting with them.

By no means are interactive whiteboards a dying market; in fact, the industry is projected to reach a value of $2.8 billion by 2027 with a compound annual growth rate of 7.6%, according to Grand View Research. Despite the drawbacks, SMART Boards ultimately allow users to be more efficient. 

“Teachers sometimes say, ‘I can get by with a whiteboard and a marker.’ I would say, I can do that too if I must, but it’s not ideal,” Gomez said, “the SMART Board allows for things that can’t be done with just a whiteboard and a marker.”

11

The Development and Significance of Classroom Technologies

Evie Upton

11.1 Introduction

Keywords

• Classroom Technology – the collection of software, hardware, and education processes to facilitate learning
• SMARTboard – is also known as an interactive whiteboard; they are connected with a computer and projector that allows someone to physically interact with it
• Chromebook – a medium-sized computer, more efficient and runs on Chrome, includes a screen and built-in keyboard
• Laptop – a small and portable computer (of many variations), used for personal and professional work, includes a screen and built-in keyboard
• Learner Attitude/Learning Behavior – the impact of a classroom technology on a students disposition on learning, can be positive, neutral, or negative
• Enhanced Communications – utilizing different methods of communication to have a better understanding

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, students should be able to:

• List the different types of technologies brought into the classroom since the blackboard.
• Differentiate between a SMARTboard and a whiteboard.
• Understand the influence on student learning behavior.
• Describe a few of the negative and positive effects of advanced technology in classrooms.

Are we really aware of how progressive technology has become as we’ve grown up? Education is the foundation of future  generations. From blackboards, to whiteboards, to SMARTboards, to individual computers; each innovation has influenced our classroom environment and our personal takeaways. The advancement of classroom technologies has a tremendous impact on how students perceive and retain information.

We are going to discuss one particular invention that has changed teaching across the world, SMARTboards. Invented in 1987, and implemented into schools in 1991, by the early 2000s they were worldwide. The technology advanced over time and led to other companies branching off to create more complex boards that improve efficiency, increase usage, etc. SMARTboards have also had a positive effect on student comprehension of material and it allows more ways to learn than the previous methods such as paper.

11.2 What are SMARTboards?

Key Takeaway

SMARTboards are the updated, technical whiteboard. They represent a breakthrough technology for classroom teaching tools.

SMARTboards work to provide a more dynamic learning environment, allowing students to discover and explore new topics utilizing its technology connections. An example of how it came together could be that you combine that box television on a rolling cart and a plain whiteboard together then project what was on the computer; whether it be a movie, word problems, websites, etc. The technology gave students a much more interactive outlet for learning. Students can utilize the technology that allows them to make connections to their lessons and lectures in the classroom.

Children grow up with blocks, coloring books, etc to learn their shapes and colors. Implementing SMARTboards into these classrooms will create an escape from everyday paper, for students to advance their learning as they move onto math, reading, sciences. The interactive features encourage the young intellectuals to use with hands, test their knowledge and learn from their mistakes.

 

“SmartBoard” by lisagiles is marked with CC PDM 1.0

11.3 History of SMARTboards

Key Takeaway

SMARTboards came into existence in the 90s and have slowly grown since. From a simple whiteboard to an intricate system that has internet access worldwide, several projection viewing options and different size structures.

1.3.1 Background and History

SMARTboards came to be in 1991 by a company called SMART Technologies. In 1992, the company created the rear-projection board and later in 1997 they established the in-wall rear projection. After these innovations, SMART Tech started to grow more rapidly, by 2001 they had updated their software from SMART Notebook 2.0 to a software with SMART Recorder. In 2005 they released a tablet that allows users to pick and modify on-screen items, as well as write and store notes and run apps. From 2007 to 2008, they had added several new features including a built-in grade book, a collective learning system, a document camera and the SMARTboard 600 interactive system.

SMARTBoards were made for the sole purpose of creating a new interactive to present material, specifically for classroom education. While it did take 30 plus years for this technology to slowly catch up, they added several significant features to the tool, and it has continued to serve its intended purpose during its entirety.

 

Figure 11.2 This was one of the very common types of SMARTboards used in a classroom; it comes with a projector, a light, and interactive pens that will write on the board.

“Reflected light Smartboard” by touring_fishman is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

 

11.4 SMARTboards Impact on Society

Key Takeaway

SMARTboards have created all new consequences for the future generations. A “pro” of this advancement in technology is the increased learning curve and skill set children acquire. A con could be the unreliableness of a complex technology and its unfamiliar handlers.

11.4.1 Pros of Technology

It is beneficial for both students and the instructors. The technology is improving efficiency through its rapid assessments and feedback that allow students to further understand and conquer real-world problems (Shaikh, 2019). The big screen at the front of the room is like a tv for students, it naturally grabs their attention. In favor of the learning environment, the SMARTboard reflects what is on the computer and directs all eyes to the board. This new style of learning causes the audience to engage with the material as it is cast onto a whiteboard yet is able to be manipulated by the human hand. Children in this decade have become so adapted to growing technology that they can maneuver the most advance pieces better than their creator. Digital learning has made education more accessible, time-saving, and inexpensive to all students, particularly those that only dreamt of receiving an education in the past, especially at high-standard institutes and universities in advanced and educationally progressive countries (Shaikh, 2019).

For professors and educators, technology has become a tool that eases their job. It provides a simple way to display and teach their curriculum yet encourages students to connect and absorb the material. It gives them the opportunity to force students to pursue social interaction and challenge one another’s intellectual intelligence. While having a classroom advancement such as the SMARTboard, it supports the function of teaching long distance. Providing a way to give students that are unable to attend for any reason, a space to join the classroom and learn along with his/her fellow classmates.

 

“the iOS family pile (2012)” by blakespot is licensed under CC BY 2.0

11.4.2 Cons of Technology

SMARTboards were built for classrooms and teaching facilities. This progressive technology has been in our school system for over thirty years. That large period of time led to many improved and declined models that led it to become one of the most complex classroom tools. Technology will always have its drawbacks; some including software issues, high maintenance, viruses, and every newer model is more expensive than the last. Not accounting for one of the most common problems which is a user with no knowledge of the machine. When the handler is unfamiliar with the technology, they can interfere with the system, increase the cost of repairs and this stall will prevent students from learning because their class time is being taken away.

11.5 Future Outlook of SMARTboards

Key Takeaway

How are SMARTboards going to continue to advance and improve the classroom learning environment.

11.5.1 Future of Smartboards

SMARTboards have stopped their rapid progression in the past 10 years due to other technologies being made and used in the classroom, such as laptops and cell phones. There is no way to determine exactly what will happen to this technology, but it is certain that they will remain in classrooms due to their reliability and sturdiness until another technology challenges to replace it.

 

Case Study: Influence of Classroom Tech on Students Learning Behavior

The primary target of this case study is to introduce a collection of classroom technologies in a university and determine their impact on a learners attitude. The study found that in the early stages of implementation, use of classroom technology increases with perceived and experienced ease of use, as well as increased ability for self-directed learning through the use of channels that improve communication and information flows (Manochehri & Sharif, 2010).

They used 2 groups, 10 boys in one and 10 girls in another. The sample consisted of male and female QU students from various colleges and departments. The students were sent the questionnaire via the university’s e-mail network. Eight hundred (800) questionnaires were sent out with explicit instructions for self-completion. There were a total of 178 questionnaires returned (Manochehri & Sharif, 2010).

Chapter Summary

SMARTboards are learning tools used in the classroom today that have been built to cater to the growing minds of young students. The first board dates back to 1987, but as technology develops, so does the SMARTboard. So throughout the 90s and early 2000s, SMART Company added a few new features such as a digital camera, a grading system, ability to run apps, and take notes. This technology has had its bonuses and downfalls when it comes to influence on society. While this giant digital whiteboard can have its mechanical problems like viruses, complex programs and unfamiliar users, the pro-side overshadows those issues. It is helpful for students because it gives them a unique interactive way to learn their lessons, keeping them engaged with the material as well as other students. It is helpful for instructors because it provides an easy method of teaching by displaying lesson plans, as well as organizing assignments and inserting grades electronically. SMARTboard hasn’t made many big advancements to the invention in over a decade, so the future for this technology is unknown. It is thought to be one of the most innovative classroom technologies of our time and will remain in classrooms until something bigger challenges its methods.

 

Review Questions

1. Which of the following options was NOT a reason for inventing the SMARTboard?

A. To advance classroom technology

B. To win a technology competition

C. To improve student comprehension and engagement

D. To establish a more efficient teaching method

2. Which of the following has the definition: the impact of a classroom technology on a students disposition on learning, can be positive, neutral, or negative.

A. SMARTboard

B. Laptop

C. Classroom technology

D. Learner attitude

3. What is the most popular con of using a SMARTboard in a classroom?

A. Unfamiliar user

B. Shocks kids

C. Viruses

D. High maintenance

4. The SMARTboard has been around for __ years and has slowed down it’s development in the past __ years.

A. 10, 30

B. 5, 15

C. 30, 10

D. 100, 50

 

Answers:

1. B
2. D
3. A
4. C

Food for Thought

1. Since we have experienced a complete year (or two) of education fully online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will the schooling system gradually move towards more distance learning with less interactive technologies?
2. When you think back to your primary years in education, how often did your teacher use a SMARTboard? Do you think that percentage affected your learning attitude today?

References

Cabus, S. J., Haelermans, C., & Franken, S. (n.d.). SMART in Mathematics? Exploring the effects of in-class-level differentiation using SMARTboard on math proficiency. Clemson University Libraries – Login. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://web-p-ebscohost-com.libproxy.clemson.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=3&sid=8b9c8fed-17a6-41ea-b66b-b7c4b145f971%40redis

Cavanaugh, C. S. (1970, January 1). The effectiveness of interactive distance education technologies in K-12 learning: A meta-analysis. International Journal of Educational Telecommunications. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.learntechlib.org/p/8461/

Ganesan, A., & Chokkalingam, L. (n.d.). Review on the Evolution of Technology Advancements and Applications of Line-Start Synchronous Machines. Login. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://pascal-clemson.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=cdi_crossref_primary_10_1049_iet_epa_2018_5283&context=PC&vid=01PASCAL_CLEM%3ACLEMSON&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Primo+Central&tab=Everything&query=any%2Ccontains%2Ceducation%2CAND&mode=advanced&offset=0

Graesser, A. C. (n.d.). Evolution of advanced learning technologies in the 21st Century. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00405841.2013.795446?scroll=top&needAccess=true&

Haselhorst, C. (n.d.). One-to-One Chromebooks: Instructional Tool Implementation and Effects on Student Engagement. Login. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://pascal-clemson.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=cdi_proquest_journals_1934117238&context=PC&vid=01PASCAL_CLEM%3ACLEMSON&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Primo+Central&tab=Everything&query=any%2Ccontains%2Ceffects%2CAND&mode=advanced&offset=0

Manochehri, N.-N., & Sharif, K. (2010, April). Impact of classroom technologies on individual learning behavior: a case study. IEEE Xplore temporarily unavailable. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/5444506

Shaikh, Z. A., Umrani, A. I., Jumani, A. K., & Laghari, A. A. (2019, October). Technology enhanced learning: A digital timeline learning … Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Asif-Laghari/publication/337243401_Technology_Enhanced_Learning_A_Digital_Timeline_Learning_System_for_Higher_Educational_Institutes/links/5dcd0c69299bf1b74b3f6649/Technology-Enhanced-Learning-A-Digital-Timeline-Learning-System-for-Higher-Educational-Institutes.pdf.

Steel, C. H., & Levy, M. (2013, April 11). Language students and their technologies: Charting the evolution 2006–2011: Recall. Cambridge Core. Retrieved November 18, 2021, from https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/recall/article/abs/language-students-and-their-technologies-charting-the-evolution-20062011/FFD420C2AFB29E728D47BF64E09F0342

definition

Is also known as an interactive whiteboard; they are connected with a computer and projector that allows someone to physically interact with it.

A small and portable computer (of many variations), used for personal and professional work, includes a screen and built-in keyboard.

The collection of software, hardware, and education processes to facilitate learning.