What Is a SMART Board and What Is It Used For?

14 Oct.,2023

 

Imagine being able to navigate on a board like you would on a computer. This time, instead of writing, the board can search and save things for you. 

We know evolution has been a topic of debate regarding humans, but evolution for boards in schools has been prominent over the years.

And speaking of boards, let us introduce you to a modern way of teaching: interactive whiteboards, or SMART Boards. Interactive boards originated in 1991, but they’re becoming resourceful in today’s society. 

And if you keep reading, we’ll show you how SMART Boards work.

What Is a SMART Board? 

A SMART Board is an interactive whiteboard that is receptive to touch, which allows you to write and move things around.

SMART Boards work by connecting to a PC via an HDMI cable. The SMART Board displays what’s on the computer and allows you to see what’s on the board.  

SMART Boards grant you the ability to tap things with a finger, and they also come with special-coloured pens to write with. This can save teachers time from buying EXPO markers when it comes to writing on a whiteboard. 

Advanced versions of smart boards now allow students to work on a problem on the board at the same time. Before, only one person could touch the board since smart boards wouldn’t respond to multiple touches. 

What Is a SMART Board Used for? 

A SMART Board is designed for browsing websites and working on projects. Think of using a giant computer.

You can use it with your finger or a mouse. It’s convenient for teachers since boards can pull up information and save data.

SMART Boards can also open PowerPoints and Microsoft Word, which saves teachers from having to write crucial key points on a regular board.

Presentations are a lot easier and run smoother. When teachers want to show clips, they can as easily pull one up by searching on YouTube or download it.

This gives SMART Boards a huge advantage and may also upgrade students’ knowledge on the topic. Teachers can also connect from all over the world.

If you ever need assistance, feel free to head over to our managed IT services  to learn more about what we can do. We answer any IT questions you may have starting with your own interactive whiteboard software. 

SMART Boards in Classrooms

SMART Boards can engage students with the lesson. This can encourage students to take notes and participate, and it can facilitate active learning.

SMART Boards enhance cooperation and collaboration, making the class interesting and fun—all the more reason why smart boards should be installed in every classroom. 

Students will brainstorm more in group activities, resulting in effective problem-solving. Check out how teachers can engage with students using this technology.

1. SMART Boards Serve as a Right Hand Man 

Since students learn best from in-person interaction, an interactive whiteboard can serve as additional content of learning. While teachers lecture, they can use a board to navigate around effortlessly.

Teachers can prepare before class much quicker, such as incorporating PowerPoints into their lessons. Also, smart boards are low maintenance, as they don’t require spray cleaning like regular boards.

Teachers can plug into any device, such as video cameras, digital cameras, microscopes, and other devices. 

2. Effective Key Points

As a teacher gives a lecture using PowerPoints or a video, they can highlight any text to help students understand the important points of a topic.

This can also prepare students to study for exams and know what to expect. Bonus points for students as they can get creative with how they take notes. 

Also, colours can play an important role when it comes to memorising. Teachers and students can remember which information belongs to which based on the colours. 

3. Better Engagement in Groups

The focus of the class should be on problem-solving. A teacher can present a problem to the class, then hand over the interactive whiteboard to the students to solve.

Students can better collaborate in the classroom when the board is at the heart of the lesson. They can also better connect to the lessons by the technologies they use every day. 

4. Respond to Student Inquiries 

A teacher or student can write a question on the board and have students answer. Make sure to look up information with the SMART Board and have it saved beforehand.

Then the class can answer the question. Once that’s over, pull up the saved data with the answer and reference via email to any students later. 

5. Environment Friendly

Teachers can save paper by uploading the syllabus on the board. Students can also open a syllabus by going to their class’s website. Most information can be uploaded on the board.

6. Flip the Switch 

SMART Boards allow teachers to save their data so they can help a student who needs homework help or missed classes. 

Students can watch videos at home and solve a problem with a teacher. While it’s not common for classrooms to do this, it’s interesting to see what a smartboard can do.  

What if Some Teachers Don’t Want to Use a SMART board? 

While teachers don’t have to use an interactive board if they’re confident they can teach without it, a SMART Board provides many advantages.

SMART Boards can be used in a professional setting. It’s worth showing teachers the new way of teaching and the benefits that come with using a smart board. 

It won’t be long before those teachers will apply modern technology to their teaching, especially when SMART Boards enhance learning.

They may even come to love it sooner or later. No more using regular boards.

If you have any questions about your smart devices, feel free to check us out here. Let us help you today. 

Written by Ben Rogers

Head of Marketing, AdEPT

Related news

All News


Transforming the education sector with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

When it comes to educational institutions and their specialist needs, it’s clear that proper enterprise resource planning (ERP) is needed to ensure the smooth-running of day-to-day operations: from managing administrative tasks and processes, to engaging students and making sure positive learning outcomes are achieved. That’s where Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central comes in. An ERP […]

Read More


Gigabit Pathways for Health – how to apply for funding

Find out more about the Gigabit Pathways for Health program and how NHS organisations can apply for funding to increase their broadband speed to one gigabit per second or more. The background – why we need one gigabit per second within the NHS There has recently been a 30% increase in broadband demand within the […]

Read More


Cyber security in the NHS

Over the past few years there have been a few notable attacks on the NHS IT infrastructure that have made their way into the media. The NHS needs to stay on top of its cyber security by being able to prove that there are no vulnerabilities in its network. A cyber security assessment can help […]

Read More

Post navigation

If you have any questions on smart teaching board. We will give the professional answers to your questions.