Smart Classrooms - Advantages and Disadvantages

Smart classrooms are the classrooms enhanced with technological equipment for the purpose of better learning and teaching.

- VIJAY GARG

Based on the equipment available smart classrooms can be categorized as follows:

Basic Smart Classes:

The classrooms with basic smart technology include gadgets like laptops or computers, projector, DVD or VCD player and a viewing screen etc.

Intermediate Smart Classes:

The intermediate smart classrooms are one step ahead of the basic technology smart classrooms. They include gadgets like a smart podium with the control panel in addition toa laptop, projector, screen and DVD or VCD player etc.

Advanced Smart Classes:

The advanced smart classrooms have all the gadgets of a basic or intermediate smart classroom but their features are very advanced, that is, they use the newest technology.

What are the Equipments Installed in a Smart Classroom?

The equipment installed in most of the smart classrooms are:

Computer or Laptop: A computer or laptop is a basic and necessary requirement ofa smart classroom. Instead of writing on board with a chalk or marker, teaching process is done by presentation or images or multimediainasmart classroom.

Projector: it is an optical device. It projects stationery or moving objects onto a screen. They create an image by shining light through a transparent lens or by a laser.

Screen: It is a surface used to display the images projected by a projector. The screens may be rigid wall-mounted screens, pull down screens, fixed frame screens, electrical screens, switchable projection screens, or mobile screens.

Microphone: it is generally called as mic or mike. It is a device which converts audio signals into electrical signals. These signals are then transmitted, amplified or recorded.

Amplifier and Speaker: These are the electronic devices which are used to increase the volume of a sound.

Podiums: it is a platform usually made of wood which raises the person standing onit so that he becomes visual to all the audience.