Many years ago when starting formal education pupils were often taught using the ‘chalk and talk’ method. In some educational institutions these methods are still in use today particularly in third world countries. However more and more we see the introduction of new technology and the use of a new type of ‘blackboard’ in the Smart Media Board [1].
At London South Bank University (LSBU) the decision has been taken to introduce this technology throughout the entire university as funds permit. Now having recently been fortunate enough to have had a Smart Media Board installed in three of the main teaching rooms of the Maths Support Centre this paper will elaborate on some of the features and benefits of using this new technology both from the point of view as a teacher and also as seen by the students receiving tuition through the use of the new technology.
Smart Boards are a revolution in the way in which lecturers teach as whole lessons or an entire curriculum can be planned prepared and shared electronically with other teachers before a student even sets foot on campus. The boards have at their heart a few simple components often found around the average home plus a very clever display screen. The heart of the system is a computer just like the one most people have at home or work but this one is connected to a special projection screen. Between the screen and the computer all the vital communication takes place to bring lessons alive and make learning fun as students at LSBU have been heard to say.
