Educational Technology Review: Wireless Bluetooth Connection for SMART Boards

Recently, my school purchased the Wireless Bluetooth Connections for all teachers who use SMART Boards in their classrooms. As I am technologically competent, I installed my own connection as well as the connection for several other teachers.

The Bluetooth connection allows SMART Board users to have a wireless connection between the computer and the SMART board. In other words, users are able to eliminate the wire that runs from the USB on the computer to the hookup on the SMART board.

This "plug and play" connection can be installed in five minutes, though I would recommend that it be installed before your board is mounted to the wall. It is difficult to plug in the adapter to the back of the board when it is flush against the wall. My board had already been mounted, so it made installing the adapter a little more difficult . It just required some patience, and my small hands also were very useful. Another part plugs into the USB port on the user’s computer, thus establishing the wireless signal between the SMART Board and the computer.

With the elimination of the wire running from the SMART Board to the computer, users have more freedom to set their computer up wherever they wish. The elimination of the wire provides a more pleasing appearance, event though there are still wires running from the computer to the projector and from the computer to the wall and from the projector to the wall.

In a classroom setting where space is usually an issue, it eliminates a tripping hazard, which in my opinion is its biggest selling point.

There is only one downside to this product, but with technology, it is understandable. At times, the wireless signal between the SMART board and the computer is lost, and this requires one to waste class time and restart the computer in order to reestablish the connection.

I would recommend this product as it does giver users more flexibility and improves safety in the classroom. Though, it would be much more useful if the whole setup, projector and computer, was wireless. That would be nice!

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