Teach over anything
Annotate slides, maps, video or a learner's work, then save the board to Google Drive or OneDrive instead of wiping it.
Interactive whiteboards and smart boards for schools and boardrooms
An interactive whiteboard is a large touch display that teachers and presenters write on, annotate and share from. Arke Technologies specifies, supplies (through Server Hub), installs and supports interactive whiteboards for South African schools, colleges and boardrooms, configured on your network and accounts from day one.
What is an interactive whiteboard?
An interactive whiteboard, often called a smart board or smartboard, is a display the whole class can see that also responds to touch and pen. A teacher can write over any content, move objects with a finger, open a website or video, and save the whole board for learners who missed the lesson. A smart board is an interactive whiteboard: the name came from one early brand and stuck to the category.
Two technologies sit under the name: the interactive flat panel, a touch screen with its own computer, and the projector-based board. We help you choose, then supply, install, configure and support the right one as part of your school IT.
Smart boards in the classroom: how teachers use them
A smart board in the classroom earns its place when it saves the teacher time:
Share learner screens
Learners cast from their Chromebooks and laptops, so a group presents without swapping cables.
Teach online and hybrid lessons
With a camera and microphone, the panel becomes a digital whiteboard for online teaching through Google Meet or Microsoft Teams.
Work together
Multi-touch panels let several learners write at once; digital whiteboard software keeps the result.
Reuse lessons
A lesson built once on the smart board for teaching can be shared with colleagues and posted to the learning platform.
Training separates a board that changes teaching from an expensive screen, so every installation includes hands-on training for teaching staff. The platforms behind the board matter too: see Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 for Education.
How to choose the best interactive whiteboard for a classroom
The clever part of a modern panel is not the screen but the software and central management behind it. Check these before you buy:
- Size to the back row. Measure the distance to the farthest seat and the smallest text that row must read; common classroom sizes are 65, 75 and 86 inches, with larger formats for lecture theatres.
- Match the platform. The panel should open Google Workspace for Education or Microsoft 365 cleanly, sign teachers in and out, and save to their drive.
- Check central management. Firmware and apps update centrally; settings lock so learners cannot change them.
- Plan the network. Casting from a full class of devices needs Wi-Fi that can carry it; see school networks and Wi-Fi.
- Plan power and access. Surge protection on every display point, and height-adjustable stands so Foundation Phase learners can reach the screen.
- Ask who fixes it. Know who comes when a display fails, how fast, and who handles the warranty claim.
Risks we design out
- A panel left signed in shows learner records to the next class, a POPIA issue. We set sign-out rules; see cybersecurity, POPIA and online safety for schools.
- Default passwords and old firmware leave a panel open on the network. We change defaults, update firmware and put displays on their own network segment.
- Open casting lets anyone on the Wi-Fi throw content onto the board. We restrict casting to the room or approved devices.
- Poor mounting is a safety risk. We check the wall first and follow the manufacturer's bracket guidance.
- Theft and surges. Asset tags, lockable brackets where needed, and surge protection for load-shedding switch-overs.
Smart boards for business and boardrooms
The same hardware works in a boardroom. Smart boards for business replace the projector, the flip chart and the meeting-room PC: presenters share wirelessly, the team annotates a plan together, and remote attendees join through Microsoft Teams or Google Meet with a camera and speakerphone. We configure boardroom displays under the same security baseline and SLA as your other devices. See Microsoft Teams and business telephony.
Governance, compliance and procurement
- Governance. Displays sit inside your SLA and monthly service review, with faults, firmware status and warranty dates reported; changes to display settings go through change control.
- Compliance. Saved boards and recordings that contain learner data follow your POPIA retention and access rules, and displays sit on their own network segment under your security baseline.
- Procurement. Level 1 B-BBEE contributor, giving 135% procurement recognition (sworn affidavit available on request); company documents, a bank confirmation letter, our CSD supplier number and SARS tax compliance status on request; itemised quotes for governing-body approval, a purchase order or a tender response; SBD forms when a bid requires them.
- Continuity. The displays and admin credentials are yours. Adding rooms later follows the same standard build, and if you change provider we hand over the asset register, credentials and documentation.