As an authorised supplier for SMART Technologies, we offer the complete range of interactive SMART Boards for schools and the best prices for the UK education sector.
Other vendors list the retail cost but ignore these prices. We supply the public sector with the complete range directly from SMART.
- An accredited SMART Board installation service. This includes all the well-known brands of interactive whiteboards by the Classroom365 installation team.
- SMART Notebook software at competitive prices if you need it. You can always purchase later.
- Free site surveys and quotations, including the environmental disposal of your ancient projector and whiteboard.
- Our installation team has been installing interactive devices for 20 years, from projector and screen installations to the latest SMART MX Series of touch screen displays.
Please fill out our contact form below with a few details for a no-obligation price and to learn more.
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What is a SMART Board?
A SMART Board is a high-tech interactive display from SMART Technologies. Mounted on a wall or mobile stand, it connects to a computer or Mac and allows teachers and students to interact dynamically and engagingly via the touchscreen display.
SMART Boards for classrooms include the SMART Board GX Series, the MX and the 6000S series of interactive displays. They all use the SMART Learning Suite and Notebook software, which focuses on education.
The MX Pro and QX Pro series are for business and corporate use. They include enhanced video conferencing and collaboration capabilities, but most schools don’t need these models. We do not promote them in the education sector unless specifically requested.
Benefits of an Interactive SMART Board for Teaching Students
Like all interactive panels, using SMART Boards for teaching creates a captivating learning environment by enabling teachers to present teaching resources, from charts to interactive games, in a bright and colourful way. They keep students interested, and using SMART Boards has been proven to improve test scores. We have a dedicated page describing the benefits of SMART Boards in the classroom with lots of references you can check out.
As the market leader, classroom SMART Boards are universally known and a favourite of teachers due to their ease of use and friendly, intuitive software. The early versions, which used a combination of smartboard and projector, were widely adopted in UK schools in the early 2000s.
SMART Board Features for Teachers in the Classroom
The intuitive touchscreen interface allows teachers and students to interact directly with content, making it easier for them to explore topics in more detail. Here are some of the main features of SMART Boards:
- Digital tools such as pens and USB ports to easily access your saved SMART Notebook documents.
- More powerful sound means external speakers or soundbars are not always required.
- SMART interactive panels have always been known for their finger-touch ability; a SMART Board pen is unnecessary for basic use.
- Compatible with Windows and Mac computers with the most common internet browsers. A ChromeOS device can also be connected along with other accessories.
- Built-in Android iQ means an attached computer is not required. The SMART interactive display is still operational if the teacher forgets their school laptop or calls in sick!
- All boards come with multiple HDMI ports and a single VGA connection, so they can be used with an older type of document camera and the latest SMART visualiser, the 650, which fully integrates with the SMART Notebook software, offering many benefits over cheaper visualisers.
- Powerful SMART Learning Suite software and online resources.
- 5-year SMART Assure warranty and SMART Board support. If you have a faulty out-of-warranty display, please check out our service for SMART Board repairs.
Comparison of the Different Models of SMART Interactive Whiteboard Available
The MX series is the most popular interactive SMART Board for classroom environments and suits most educational needs. It is available in 55”, 65”, 75” and 86” sizes. The SMART Board MX275 is our most popular classroom SMART interactive whiteboard, with the MX265 more suitable for smaller classes or intervention rooms.
For more advanced users, the 6000s series is available in sizes of 65”, 75”, and 86”. For example, the premium SMART Technologies 6075s panel has the following higher specifications above the MX275 75” equivalent:
- 20W inbuilt speakers, in comparison to 15W.
- A 4-microphone array enables teachers to walk around the room with consistent volume and audio quality.
- InGlass technology for more responsive interactivity.
- A higher frame and refresh rate means a better image.
- 40 multi-touch points compared to 20 for the MX275.
- 2 erasers with mounts with intelligent pen recognition.
- Multiple video inputs for ease of switching between sources.
Further information about the SMART Board GX Series of entry-level smartboards and other brands can be found on Classroom365’s cheap interactive whiteboard page.
A classroom SMART Board display benefits all learning styles and, by integrating into an enriched digital learning environment, engages students on many levels:
- A visual level with a bright HD touchscreen and colourful graphics.
- Audio with multimedia content from YouTube to the 1000s of free online resources included with the SMART Software Suite.
- Interactivity so pupils can get involved and participate in the onscreen lessons.
Interactive SMART Boards make it easy to view third-party multimedia sources, such as digital cameras and visualisers, and to share screens remotely with students using a class set of iPads, Chromebooks or laptops.
Top Five Uses of SMART Interactive Software
- SMART Learning Suite software, including SMART Notebook and Lumio, features many interactive software tools and resources that enable teachers to create diverse and engaging lesson plans.
- The ability to write and draw on the smartboard, insert images and links and annotate videos.
- Record audio and video and embed them into the content.
- Play interactive games with the free resources provided.
- Live and interactive lessons.
- Online assessments and tools to collaborate with pupils or teachers anywhere!
- SMART Ink allows teachers to write over open applications, files, browser tabs, and PDFs. You can even annotate YouTube videos with digital ink and save them for later.
- The IQ experience is the free Android software included in the SMART Board interactive display. It’s like a built-in computer with the Learning Suite software, browser and plugins should you not have a computer connected. It includes the ability to save created documents to the cloud.
- SMART Board Drivers include everything to connect your SMART Board interactive whiteboard to a Windows PC or Mac. Included is Smart Ink and the software for SMART Board calibration.
- SMART Teamworks with Google Workspace and Office 365 integration is SMART Technologies’ collaboration software and a virtual meeting room. Support for Microsoft Teams and Zoom, along with wireless screen sharing between devices.
Further Information - Get in Touch
Interactive SMART Whiteboard Tips and Tricks for Teachers
- Math Equation Editor, built-in to the notebook software, allows you to handwrite maths equations and turn them into text. Used with GeoGebra, you can import data into graphs.
- Wirelessly share an iPad with the SMART whiteboard. It’s helpful if you don’t have a dedicated visualiser attached to your computer or interactive display.
- Brainstorm with students using the concept mapping addon to the SMART software suite.
- The infinite cloner takes images and turns them into manipulatives. Just right-click on the object and select “Infinite Cloner”.
- Use the video search addon in Notebook Plus to find educational videos to add to your lesson directly.
Using Smartboards Beyond the Classroom
Smartboards are commonly known in education, but they also have a business line of products that share many of the features of their education cousins.
The SMART QX Pro and MX Pro series use SMART Ink and are powered by the iQ Android OS, meaning versatility in a corporate setting.
Both ranges have an integrated microphone array, with the premium QX Pro having an integrated HD camera and 40-point precision touch display.
SMART Meeting Pro is their business software for collaboration and video conferencing, including full functionality with Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
Digital signage where interactivity is not required is also available with the NX series in screens of 65”, 75”, and 86” sizes.
Opinion and Review
The Classroom365 team has been installing new SMART Boards for the education market since 2004, and the latest interactive displays from SMART Technologies are great products. They are reliable, tough, and good value. SMART Technologies is the market leader, and the education market is ultra-competitive.
However, significant educational discounts and lower prices are available now.
One of the main positives is the SMART Learning Suite software and the fact that many teachers are already familiar with it. This means teachers do not have to learn a whole new software platform, even though there is more compatibility between the different file formats between manufacturers than there used to be.
SMART is a premium product and is a bit more expensive than competitors. You also have to factor in the licencing costs to purchase the SMART licence for the Notebook Plus and factor in this cost for the full functionality. The first-year software licence is no longer included with each new SMART Board price. For large projects, consider a DfE-approved education leasing agreement. This may be suitable for your school.
Please learn about our interactive screen installation services and the alternatives to the SMART Technologies range. Classroom365 are accredited and a certified SMART Board installer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much are SMART Boards?
Prices vary considerably for interactive SMART Boards, not only with suppliers but with the purchasing organisation. Schools will receive an educational discount, which can be considerable.
What are the Disadvantages of a SMART Board?
The only disadvantage of an interactive SMART Board is the initial cost. However, they are a good investment with their 5-year warranty and low maintenance. The SMART GX Series offers a low-cost option.
Does a SMART Board Need a Computer?
No, the latest SMART Boards do not need a computer attached. They have an inbuilt operating system so that they can work independently. The GX Series uses a generic Android 11 OS, with the more upmarket MX series using a bespoke Android iQ operating system.
Do SMART Boards Have Wi-Fi?
SMART Boards have Wi-Fi enabling internet browsing, Google Drive access and firmware updates. They also have an ethernet port, should a wired connection be preferable.
Mark Friend, BSc (Hons), is a Company Director at Classroom365 and has worked in technology for nearly 30 years. His IT career started with Rothschild Bank in Sydney, Australia, before working as a Global VPN Project Manager for the British Council. Mark has 20 years of experience in the UK education sector, helping schools integrate the latest tech into their curriculum and ICT vision.