What is a smart classroom?
A smart classroom integrates interactive and engaging digital content into everyday teaching and learning activities to support students’ cognitive development and fosters creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving skills and 21st-century skills. Though there has been some concern about whether or not these types of classrooms actually work for children’s development, research has shown mixed results; either showing no significant statistical difference between those who take classes in such a setting versus those who do not; or proving that such an environment does indeed have benefits for student achievement, engagement, motivation and creativity. Smart Classroom solutions in Sri Lanka are also available now through reputed vendors and are gradually being implemented through various organisations.
Classrooms that are described as “smart” usually have technology integrated into the learning environment in some way. This can include using interactive whiteboards or projectors to display content on a screen for the entire class to see, providing laptops or tablets for each student to use, or having computers and other devices hooked up to internet-enabled screens around the room. Smart classrooms may also have microphones and cameras installed so that teachers can call on students remotely and monitor their work from anywhere in the room. Additionally, many smart classrooms make use of various software programs that allow for different types of interactivities between students and teachers or among students themselves.
The advantages of having a smart classroom include:
The ability for the teacher to call on any student in the room without having to leave their desk.
The ability for students to work collaboratively on projects from anywhere in the room.
The ability for teachers to track individual student progress and provide help or support as needed.
The disadvantages of having a smart classroom include:
Teachers may feel overwhelmed by all of the technology at their disposal and not be sure how to use it effectively.
Students who are not comfortable with computers or who do not have access to devices outside of school may fall behind their peers in terms of technological skills.
There is potential for cyberbullying if proper precautions are not taken.