Educators must ask themselves if the benefits of using SMART boards outweigh these drawbacks? One common complaint of K-12 educators who instruct via SMART boards is that users feel they get so wrapped up in the technical components they overlook classroom discipline. This is not to say students are climbing the walls and exiting through the windows, but educators feel they are unable to monitor students to see who is paying attention and who is not. While some teachers are extremely proficient in technology, others are not so technologically inclined. When such difficulties occur, teachers become frustrated as they must spend class time troubleshooting the problem, thus taking away from the learning environment.
In short, teachers must spend time outside of class getting familiar with this new technology; otherwise confusion prevails and students wander off task. It also may be a good idea to experiment with a more responsive class initially in case something goes wrong. If you put in the prep time, you'll find SMART boards a welcome addition to your classroom.
