Magnetic whiteboards were once a staple in classrooms and offices across the UK. However, with the rise of interactive whiteboards (IWB) many buyers saw their days as numbered and waited to see where technology was going. As it turned out, the iPad has become a fixture in our working and studying spaces, but this left a physical gap that still needed to be filled. Only now are we seeing how magnetic whiteboards complement technology in a way, which is making IWB obsolete.
The problem with interactive whiteboards
For many schools and offices, the IWB seemed a wise choice. They offer a great way to project text, images and video on a communal screen and offer a way to augment that information in real time with markers. However, many IWB sit around unused.
Their set-up time cuts into classroom time and technical issues leave teachers feeling embarrassed and incompetent. Some even suggest that they negatively impact learning. Overall, from finding power sockets to working around washed out text and images, the experience as a whole can leave many wanting.
Using a magnetic whiteboard
By comparison, school magnetic whiteboards offer a very analogue experience where little can go wrong. Firstly, the residue colour associated with IWB, or ‘ghosting’, left after text and drawings are erased is eradicated thanks to the painted steel board construction. The magnets also allow you to add and move visual aids effortlessly to help to convey ideas more easily. Used in the classroom, magnetic boards from suppliers such as https://wedgewhiteboards.co.uk/product-category/education/ also allow students to interact directly. They are also much, much cheaper than IWBs.
Another huge advantage is their longevity. Although sales of magnetic boards have fallen off in the last few years, they are still present and usable wherever they remain. Because of their lack of technology, obsolescence can’t occur. Magnetic boards, functional 10 years ago, are still working just fine today.
Magnetic boards also come in a range of sizes and this makes them much more flexible than their electronic counterparts. A smaller wall can still hold a magnetic board and a lack of a power source isn’t an issue either. Not all teachers are tech-savvy and it isn’t connected to being a great teacher. Giving teachers the tools they need to teach better is the first priority.
