Whenany Staples student or faculty member walks into a classroom, it is always a  surprise as to what SmartBoard they will be working with. There are a variety of SmartBoards around Staples High School, changing  in quality with every classroom. Some are from years past, while others have been recently updated. The older SmartBoards continue to have technology issues, varying from the projector to the sensors while the newer SmartBoards do not have as many issues due to their heightened technological capacity. It seems as though certain classrooms have a great advantage over others, yet this issue is never talked about within Staples community.  

There are at least three different types of SmartBoards that could be in a classroom. The SmartBoards range in age, but it is clear that some need to be replaced due to their lack of speed and constant problems that they cause.

Additionally, not every room at Staples has a SmartBoard at the teachers disposal. Many rooms around the school simply have a projector, which merely shines a light onto the whiteboard, mirroring computer images.These projectors—mainly found in science classrooms—put those teachers and students at a disadvantage. The projectors do not allow the teachers to execute the same tasks, ultimately affecting the learning of the students.

When these SmartBoards work correctly, it can be very beneficial for students and teachers. According to Rise, SmartBoards are very interactive, allowing learners an opportunity to share and participate instructionally.TechHub notes SmartBoards provide students with enriched learning experience because of the projection of visual objects. It also helps accommodate with a variety of learning styles for students and teachers.

Because of all of the benefits that SmartBoards provide, there should be a high functioning board in each room. Due to the wide variety of SmartBoards at Staples, I have found that the older ones affect critical learning time because they are not up to par. In many classrooms, the SmartBoard does not work at the beginning of the period and valuable time is lost trying to fix the technology.

Although solutions to this problem might be pricey, if it is taking away from the learning of students—which it has in the past—a change should be made. The disparity of SmartBoards around Staples is an issue that should be fixed, given the studies that show the many positive aspects of a working and high technology SmartBoard. With the older SmartBoards and projectors around the school, it learning for the students and takes away necessary academic time when technological problems occur.