Just How Smart Are SMART Boards?

By Peter Clark, Summer 2009

SMART Boards are smart. At least this is what I’ve been told. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to be convinced. More often than not, it seems these so-called “smart” boards are treated more like their mentally inferior step-cousins, the dry erase board. You don’t believe me? How often have you been sitting in class while this shining beacon of technological marvel is glaring back at you and your professor is writing on the chalkboard. Or even more common, writing on the SMART Board with a marker.

While I applaud the administration for purchasing these scientific specimens, I’ve yet to see professors utilize their power. It’s quite sad that professors have not tried to master the intricacies of the SMART Board’s intellect or permeated the depths of its psyche. To justify the spending on SMART Boards, I’d like to see a mandatory information session for all professors. I’m interested in seeing just what they can do.