Smart Boards for Classrooms: How Interactive Whiteboards Are Revolutionizing Education
The need to engage traditional in-person students and remote learners in daily lesson plans has driven educators to seek technological solutions. Among the most effective and innovative tools in the modern educational environment are smartboards in the classroom. These smart displays blend traditional teaching tools with the powerful interactive components of internet access and synchronous communication.
Here’s what you need to know about what makes a smart board for classroom teaching special, which brands currently offer displays designed for classrooms, and how Vibe Smart Whiteboards can transform the classrooms of the future.
How are Smart Boards Used for Classroom Instruction?
Smart boards bring lessons to life by transforming traditional teaching into an interactive experience adaptable to student needs. Teachers can annotate directly on the board, making real-time adjustments to notes and lessons. Math instructors can work through equations step by step, while science and history lessons come to life with embedded videos, simulations, and interactive diagrams. Plus, students using tablets or laptops can share their work directly on the screen, allowing for natural participation both in the classroom and remotely.
4 Advantages of Using a Smart Board for Classroom Teaching
1. Encourages hands-on interactive learning
Traditional whiteboards and projector-based setups can limit student participation, requiring teachers to rely on slides or single-student interactions. Smart boards allow multiple students to engage with content at the same time, making learning more dynamic and collaborative.
2. Provides an endless teaching canvas
Running out of space on a whiteboard can disrupt a lesson, forcing teachers to erase important notes. With smart boards, scrolling, zooming, and annotation tools ensure that brainstorming sessions, problem-solving exercises, and lesson notes are never lost or cut short.
3. Integrates with classroom tech
Projector-based whiteboards often require external devices and manual calibration, making lesson setup time-consuming. Smart boards easily connect with lesson plans, videos, and interactive apps, while also allowing students to share their work instantly from their devices.
4. Supports all learning styles with accessibility
Not all students learn the same way, and traditional teaching methods can leave some learners behind. Smart boards enhance accessibility by supporting visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning, and they help remote and hybrid students stay connected in real-time.
Smartboards vs. Projector-Based Whiteboards: Key Differences
This comparison table highlighting the key differences between projector-based whiteboards and smart whiteboards.
Picture quality and brightness
Smart Boards deliver superior visual clarity with 4K UHD displays and LED screens containing millions of pixels. Their consistent backlit brightness remains clear in any lighting condition, eliminating shadows completely. In contrast, projector-based whiteboards struggle with resolution limitations, and image quality significantly deteriorates in bright rooms unless lights are dimmed, impacting the viewing experience even with optimal settings.
Touch controls & operation
Smart Boards offer effortless interaction through instant finger or stylus recognition without any setup requirements. Projector-based systems demand regular calibration and rely on special pens with sensors, which can interrupt workflow and limit natural interaction with content.
Sound
Smart Boards come equipped with integrated front-facing speakers that provide clear audio without additional equipment needs. Projector-based whiteboards require external speaker installation and setup, adding complexity to both the system configuration and daily use.
Connectivity
Smart Boards feature comprehensive connectivity through HDMI, VGA, and USB ports, supporting modern devices and quick content sharing. These versatile connection options enable seamless integration with laptops, tablets, and other teaching tools. Projector-based whiteboards typically offer limited connection options, mainly VGA, creating compatibility challenges with newer devices and requiring additional adapters.
Installation
Smart Boards offer hassle-free installation through simple wall mounting or mobile stand options with zero calibration needed. Once mounted, they’re ready to use immediately. Projector-based whiteboards require precise positioning, perfect wall alignment, and restrict classroom layout options once installed. Their complex setup involves multiple components that all need careful calibration.
Lifespan
Smart Boards demonstrate superior longevity through their maintenance-free interactive display panels. Projector-based systems require ongoing maintenance with regular bulb replacements, leading to both maintenance costs and system downtime.
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Evaluating 6 Smart Boards for Classroom Teaching
Many smartboard brands are constantly innovating and refining their products specifically for classroom use. It’s important to understand the key differences in these products before deciding and purchasing, as they can vary by panel size, price, and functionality. Here are the major highlights from some of the most well-known brands in the smartboard space:
1. Vibe Smart Whiteboards
Pros
It’s no surprise we’re partial to one brand in particular—Vibe Smart Whiteboards—and for good reason. Vibe offers sleek, modern interactive displays that are designed with teachers in mind, delivering a powerful yet affordable alternative to competitors.
The newest Vibe Smart Whiteboard S1 sets a new standard for classroom technology. Featuring a 4K UHD touchscreen, instant cloud collaboration, and low-latency performance, allowing teachers and students to annotate, share, and interact in real-time with no lag. Built on ChromeOS, VibeOS supports Google Workspace apps, Office 365 apps, and 100+ vetted third-party apps designed for all school subjects, making it a flexible tool for digital learning. Plus, its portable stand and wireless connectivity make it easy to move between classrooms.
The Vibe Smart Whiteboard lineup, available in 55-inch and 75-inch sizes, is designed with educators and student experience in mind. Its simple UI and plug-and-play features make preparing, saving, and sharing lessons effortless—eliminating hassle and requiring minimal tech support. That’s why over 7,200 schools and educators choose Vibe for its ease of use and intuitive design.
Cost
The Vibe Smart Whiteboard S1 starts at $3,199, with education discounts available for bulk orders. Talk with one of our representatives to see what savings your school can benefit from.
2. Promethean ActivPandel 10
Pros
The ActivPanel 10 is a widely used interactive display in education, offering multiple size options and compatibility with Android, Windows, and ChromeOS. It includes features like the ActivPen® 2 and a remote, allowing teachers to navigate lessons from anywhere in the room. While it provides useful classroom tools, its ecosystem is more structured, which may limit flexibility for schools wanting full control over their software choices.
Cons
While the ActivPanel 10 includes educator-focused features, it leans heavily on proprietary software, meaning schools may need to adjust workflows to fit within the Promethean ecosystem. Premium models can be costly, and repairs—especially for touch sensors—can add up over time.
Cost
Pricing varies by size and model, with the 75-inch ActivPanel 10 starting around $2,963. Depending on the configuration, prices can range between $2,000 and $6,500, making it one of the more expensive options.
3. BenQ Interactive Displays
Pros
BenQ’s interactive displays are designed for classroom use, offering multi-app functionality and 4K Ultra-HD screens with germ-resistant coatings. The displays support running two apps side by side, allowing teachers to present material and use whiteboard functionality simultaneously. The ultra-responsive touch accuracy ensures smooth writing and interactions.
Teachers appreciate BenQ’s ultra-responsive touch accuracy, which ensures smooth writing and interactions.
Cons
While BenQ’s hardware is solid, the built-in Android system is underpowered, often requiring external devices for a smooth experience. Users have reported issues with the ink layer not appearing properly, impacting annotation reliability. Software integrations are limited, making it less flexible for organizations that rely on a diverse set of tools outside BenQ’s ecosystem.
Cost
Pricing details are not readily available on BenQ’s official website; however, base models are estimated to start around $3,000.
4. Clevertouch IMPACT
Pros
The Clevertouch IMPACT Plus is tailored for educational settings, featuring a 4K high-resolution touchscreen with dual stylus support for collaboration. It comes equipped with built-in educational apps and offers infinite whiteboarding, allowing educators to create dynamic lessons without space limitations. The device supports cloud connectivity, enabling real-time collaboration and access to cloud storage
Cons
Premium features come at a higher price point, and some users report occasional touch sensitivity issues. The advanced features may require a learning curve for educators unfamiliar with the technology.
Cost
Pricing varies by model, and pricing is not readily available on the website without talking with sales.
5. Samsung Flip Pro
Pros
The Samsung Flip Pro is a 4K UHD interactive display with multi-user support for up to 20 simultaneous touchpoints, making it suitable for collaborative learning. It integrates with Google and Microsoft education tools, allowing screen mirroring and wireless connectivity for sharing content across devices. The Flip Pro also includes HDMI, USB, and USB-C ports, providing flexible connection options for classrooms. Samsung’s MagicINFO Remote Management allows schools to distribute content and alerts, helping educators manage classroom communication.
Cons
While suitable for both business and education, the Flip Pro lacks some advanced built-in teaching tools compared to competitors. The limited suite of educational apps may require reliance on external devices or software for certain functionalities. Annotation features are present but less robust compared to other options, potentially reducing interactivity for some use cases.
Cost
Starts at $2,190 for the 55-inch model and goes up to $5,999 for the 85-inch version.
6. SMART Boards
Pros
SMART Boards have been a long-standing option in interactive classroom technology, offering models such as the GX series for entry-level use and the 6000S series for more advanced features. These boards integrate with both Google for Education and Microsoft Office 365, providing compatibility with widely used classroom tools. SMART Ink® technology allows users to write and annotate over applications, files, and web browsers, improving engagement during lessons. Additional features include built-in screen sharing, split-screen functionality, and web browsing.
Cons
Despite their established reputation, SMART Boards are among the more expensive options, with prices starting at $4,999 for the GX series, increasing significantly for larger and more advanced models. While software integration with Google and Microsoft is seamless, accessing premium features or third-party applications may require additional costs. Some users have reported the need for frequent recalibration to maintain touch accuracy.
Cost
Pricing varies by model and size. The GX series starts at $4,999 for a 65-inch display, while the 6000S series is priced significantly higher, depending on the features and size.
Choose Vibe for Smart Board Elevated Classroom Experiences
The right smart board should support active learning, easy collaboration, and unmatched lesson delivery. Vibe Smart Whiteboards do just that, with instant cloud access, reliable responsive touch controls, and built-in tools that help teachers create interactive, engaging lessons. Designed to simplify instruction and support all learning styles, Vibe makes it easier to keep students focused and involved—whether they’re in the classroom or learning remotely.
Looking to learn more about Vibe’s smartboard technology, price point and classroom advantages? Get a virtual demo of Vibe today .
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