What is a smart classroom?

A smart classroom is one that makes use of technology in various forms, such as interactive whiteboards, smart devices such as laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, and any other electronic device that brings the real world into the smart classroom to engage and stimulate children’s interest.

How does a smart classroom promote interactive learning?

• Technology that is used in a smart classroom optimizes the potential for different kinds of interaction: the child with technology, interaction between students, and interaction between the teacher and students.
• The smart classroom allows the child to experience real-life situations like viewing actual experiments in a laboratory and listening to clips of real dialogue between people. The use of communication apps in a smart class make it possible for children to interact with experts around the world or to chat with peers from different countries.
• Using smart tools, like the XSEED Super Teacher app significantly reduces the burden on the teacher. Most of the preparation is done, the resources are provided, and rich opportunities for interaction are built into the lesson plan. The teacher can focus on ensuring meaningful student participation and learning in the classroom. In a smart classroom the teacher has the time to focus on classroom organization, individual student learning, and making each activity as interactive as possible.
• Smart technology allows teachers to prepare their own, or supplementary lessons well in advance and store them electronically to be available whenever they are needed. Smart lessons can be reused and updated. Student feedback on lessons and the teacher’s observations on what may not have worked can be used to adjust a lesson before it is used with the next group of students.
• One of the major perks of a smart classroom is that lecture-style input is replaced by content that is conveyed using a variety of tools that promote interaction. A language lesson using smart tools could include a text with sound and animated images, an activity that requires groupwork, feedback, and class discussion. Learners could then be given a worksheet and homework.
• In smart classrooms, learners are given the tools to collaborate and communicate which stimulates creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Group discussions can be held in break-away rooms and resources for discussions can be shared online without major cost or effort.
• Smart devices offer opportunities for individual kids and groups to present their work as power-point presentations, voice clips, or videos. Depending on the task, the teacher can assess the presentations and extract relevant aspects for class discussion. Kids or groups can view and comment on each other’s work. These time-saving, interactive features exponentially increase opportunities for learning.
• Kids learn in different ways. In a smart classroom a teacher can accommodate every learner’s needs. Technology provides opportunities to provide visual, auditory, verbal and kinaesthetic stimuli in the same lesson.

Smart classrooms, not a choice but a requirement

Adopting the very best technology that smart classrooms can offer has become a necessity. Information has increased exponentially, and technology is developing daily. Kids are not only increasingly tech savvy but are also exposed to games, videos, films, and other media of the highest quality. If schools want to continue providing education that is engaging and relevant, there is no option but to embrace smart technology and all it offers.