Classrooms with no more black board, welcome smart board

When it comes to the blackboard, the chalks and the duster, this reminds me of my School days, my friends and the classrooms. If the chalks were colourful then the disappearance of chalks are fast, into the pockets of students.

Now the technology has given way to smart classrooms where you can find smart board and Board Markers in classrooms. This change is partially a boon and also a curse. Whom does this benefit? The teachers or the students.

Blackboard- Merits and demerits

There was a time when teachers cannot teach without the support of blackboard and chalks. The expressions, the explanations and the interest with which they teach using a board and chalk can never be enjoyed with a smart board and marker. The forgotten days we can say it now. If the teacher has something to explain in detail, there immediate assistance was the blackboard.

Infact, I remember our teachers carrying different colors of chalks, especially our science and Art teacher. Art teacher used more often different colours for drawing art from A to Z on the black board. And I remember our science teacher often using blue color for explanations related to water or sky and green for plants.

If you see the merits of using black board.

• In the absence of technology, I felt the teachers then were more comfortable and patient in explaining by writing and following the step-by-step procedure in black board.

• Literally the students were either given a chance or were forced to do the answers in board. So out of fear the children were always prepared, particularly with teachers who were strict.

• The students were always alert because nobody knows whose turn is it, next.

• The teacher and student had an eye to eye contact because they were always under observation when something is being explained and written on blackboard.

• Oral explanation while writing in black board simultaneously, made it easy for students to understand at a glance.

  If you see the demerits

• There were teachers suffering from allergic issues due to more usage of chalks and dusting of blackboard. But then these were happily shared by the students to become teacher's favorite student.

• Another funny aspect of chalk, from teachers point of view, is to throw the chalk at the student when the pin drop silence breaks. Sometimes the aim is so sharp and has a good response.

• There was a time when the teachers wrote all the notes in the black board and by the time the next teacher gets in, the board is supposed to be clean, no matter if the child has completed his notes or not which finally result in punishment.

If we talk about the merits and demerits of smart board-

• From students point of view some has adapted to this learning very fast while some find it difficult to get along with this.

• Staff and students are updated with the current ongoing topics, the latest discoveries etc. This infact has changed the outlook of students on a broader sense.

• Now its the students who question and teachers to have an answer at fingertips.

• Compared to black board the teachers are a bit free as everything is in typed and printed form. But few teachers take it as an advantage by giving less importance to explanation which ultimately leads the student to suffer.

• If you see from the side effects of using smart board, one of the most disturbing problem is the headache and vision problem which is affecting the student in huge number.

• Replacement of smart boards when damaged is quite expensive when compared to black board.

Anything and everthing has its own side effects. Everything happens for a change. To get along with the current technology seems to be the only solution. Many of us should be missing those golden days, I believe.