Smart Classroom: What is Smart Learning and its Advantages

With the advent of technology, everything right from our eating habits to our shopping style became technically-advanced. In this digitally revolutionised era, how can education be left behind. The concept of smart classroom solution began a couple of decades ago with introduction of projector and computers in education. Most of the high-end educational institutions began investing in smart digital tools like projectors, computers, tablets, iPad for their students. They even moved their content online so that students can access them whenever they require.

With technology becoming more approachable and affordable, smart classroom became a rather common and indispensable phenomenon. Smart classroom is being installed in every school across the country even in remotest locations. This certainly brought about many positive changes in the education scenario in India including reduced absenteeism, better results and engagement. Not only this, technology also boosts creativity in students, giving them wings to explore their interests and choice of subjects.

Before moving ahead to the utility of smart classroom solutions and their advantages and disadvantages, let’s read what smart classroom really is.

What is Smart Classroom? | Definition

Smart Classroom is an installation where the entire classroom proceedings take place through a blend of traditional as well as contemporary teaching methods. A typical smart classroom setup involves a Digital Board or Digital Teaching System, Projector, Tablets or iPad and Digital Content. The digital content is customized as per the standard curriculum and contains multimedia subject exercises. The audio-visual content includes subject-related equations, experiments, laboratory experiments, graph, diagram, etc. to make learning more engaging. This opens up a Pandora box for infinite number of possibilities of learning and innovating.  

There are many brands like Samsung, LG, Globus Infocom, EduComp, Hitachi, etc that deal in world-class smart classroom solutions for classroom, lecture rooms and training centres. In India, these brands have already setup many smart classrooms in schools, colleges and training institutes.

Advantages of Smart Class Technology

There are infinite possibilities that teachers and students can explore with the help of a smart classroom. A teacher can customise their teaching methods to suit their students while students can dive deeper into the subjects of their choice with the help of digital content. Here are some of many benefits that come with a smart classroom solution.

Better Learning Experience

Though the traditional blackboard and chalk method has worked for many decades, students nowadays demand something different from the education they receive. With the help of smart classroom technology, teachers can illustrate information with the help of audio-visual content like graphs, diagrams, videos, animations, 3D diagrams, etc. to make learning more atrractive. Also, when displayed in a multimedia format, students find it easier to understand concepts deeply. With the help of smart classroom solution, students can see laboratory experiments on screen without having to visit the lab in real-time. This feature can help students of initial grades to view the scientific experiments without facing the hazards of a laboratory.

Better Engagement

When students are equipped with tablets to access the digital content, they interact better with their peers, making their classroom session more collaborative. Research has confirmed that students are 55% more engaged with lessons when teachers are using smart classroom solution. Also, students can interact with their classmates after the school hours and complete their assignments together remotely.

Better Access to Online Resources

Internet is not entirely bad. When used in the right manner, students can access the unlimited pool of information on internet and aid their learning. With so many options available, students can explore their choice of subjects and topics and learn them at their own pace. Thus, smart classroom technology also helps students to recognise their interests early.

Eco-Friendly Education

Earlier, the environmental cost of education used to huge. There were papers, books, chalks, pens involved which cost a lot to our environment. These used stationery when disposed leave behind huge carbon footprint. On the other hand, if education goes digital, there would be much lesser environmental impact of education. There will be reduced consumption of paper, pen and chalk. Teachers can assign homework to students over internet without having to take printouts that waste paper.

Saves Time

In traditional blackboard and chalk concept, teachers had to write the notes on the board and wait for students to copy them in their notebook. This wastes more time on copying the notes instead of understanding them. In case of smart classroom technology, teachers can prepare their notes beforehand and later distribute them to students after the class. This way, students will also never lose their notes before examinations.

Increased Productivity

Smart Classroom technology not only builds engagement but also boosts productivity in students. Schools which have installed smart classroom tools on their campus noticed better results in examination. This means, students grasped information better when it is conveyed to them in digital format. Productivity also increased for teachers who previously used to waste a lot of time in writing the notes on the blackboard.

Reduced Absenteeism

Students tend to skip classes the most when they are bored. This can never be the case when education is being imparted through smart classroom solution. Classroom lessons through digital board build engagement among students and make them look forward to classes everyday. Digital technology in education has certainly reduced absenteeism in schools.

Also Read: Interactive Board: Top 7 Brands in Market

Disadvantages of Smart Classroom Technology

There is a dark side to everything. However, it also depends on how you view it. There are umpteen benefits of smart class technology if you are ready to adapt to it. Some teachers might initially find it hard to adapt to using a digital board in a classroom, but as the time passes by, they become habitual of using technology during their lessons. Another drawback is that smart class technology might not function in case of power failure. Thus, a competent power backup plan is required in areas with frequency power cuts.

Smart Classroom Top Brands in India

There are many brands that provide smart class solutions in India. However, there are only handful of them that provide hardware along with the interactive software. One such brand is Globus Infocom based in Delhi that provides an all-in-one smart classroom solution for educational institutes in India. There are a number of solutions that Globus offer under their Smart Classroom category including Digital Board, Digital Teaching Solution, Flat Panel Display, Digital Language Lab, etc.