Importance of Chalkboard in Teaching

A blackboard (chalkboard) is necessary for teaching in schools and colleges.

Despite the availability of highly visual interactive boards due to technological advancements, teaching with a chalkboard is still irreplaceable.

The chalkboard has many advantages for both the teacher and the students.

Using the board makes the subject more narrative, easy for the tutor to teach, and better for the student to understand.

Advantages of chalkboard for teachers

Ease of presentation

A teacher can quickly deliver the subject by writing on the chalkboard. He can interact with the students by using simultaneous writing.

This would also encourage students to take running notes of the topic being taught.

For mathematics class

Teaching mathematics in school or college requires problem-solving on the board in the presence of the students.

Here, using a blackboard helps the students watch the derivation or solution.

Also, as the teacher writes the problems with chalk, students can enter them into their notes.

For teaching English and other Languages

While learning languages, students find it challenging to understand some spellings;

Some words seem similar when spelled but have different meanings.

For example, the words

1. Discreet and Discrete.
2. Here and Hear

They have entirely different meanings and can be confused when just spelled.

So, a teacher can write them on the board to help them copy them into their notes.

In science

The board is needed to draw diagrams for biology, physics, and chemistry subjects.

Teachers can draw diagrams, flow charts, and biochemistry cycles (pathways) to help even students draw them in their books, thereby getting practice for writing in exams.

In physics, derivation can be easily derived in a manner understandable to students using a chalkboard.

In chemistry, the stoichiometry of equations, formulas, and chemical reactions can be taught using the board.

Gain the attention and interest of students in the subject

Students and audiences do not like long speech lectures.

They may remain interested for the first 10 minutes, and then their minds stay away from class.

This can be avoided by using chalkboard writing as both combinations of hearing, and writing will keep their attention and interest in class intact for a longer time.

Writing on blackboards helps students.

Writing on the board helps students take notes in class.

This class note helps them to study the topic easily at home or during exams.

If it is shown on PowerPoint slides instead, the students find less time to note down the lecture.

The advantage for the students or audiences:

1. Ease of understanding

It is easier for the pupil to understand the topic on the blackboard as they see the method or procedure for some processes or theories.

2. Increased memory for a particular topic or diagram

Seeing a topic on board is more memorable than just hearing it for students.

Memory of sight is indeed better than memory gained by hearing or speech.

It is also true that we remember people better by their faces and not by their names.

3. Ease of making notes

Many students would like to have a running note of classroom teaching.

This is because of the ease of learning a student gets when he reopens the pages written during classroom teaching.

Writing on a blackboard gives the students ample time to make notes.

4. Stay attentive in class

Students listening to teaching mixed with oral and written presentations stay more attentive than mere speech mode of demonstration.

5. Better vision

Writing on the board helps the students sitting at the back (benches/chairs) to see better if the teacher’s voice is not audible in some words or sentences.

Advantages of using chalkboard over expensive interactive boards

An inexpensive teaching aid. The board and chalk used to write are cheaper than interactive boards or whiteboards.

Easily adaptable to everyone. The chalkboard look has an aversion, so it is acceptable for everyone to see it.

It can be used in open-air or classroom teaching. This is because of ease of carriage to the place, no requirement of electricity to power them, unlike interactive boards, and they are not light-reflective so that they can be seen without strain on the eyes.

Disadvantages

1. Chalk broad is more time-consuming in topic coverage than interactive boards.

2. Less attractive and appealing than interactive boards.

3. The visual or virtual video presentation is impossible, which is more evident in understanding a structure like biology, etc.

So, using a chalkboard or interactive board is essential for teachers or tutors to improve their teaching.

References:

• 5 ways kids use working memory to learn