The adoption of digital learning technologies is reshaping classroom instruction in Kenya, with schools increasingly embracing interactive teaching tools to make lessons more engaging, practical and learner-centred.
Among the technologies supporting this transition is the Hybrid Teaching Boards Combo developed by Smart Schools Technologies Ltd, a Kenyan school tech company providing digital solutions to educational institutions.
The hybrid solution combines a CBE-equipped Smart Interactive Teaching Screen with a traditional whiteboard enclosure, creating a dual-purpose teaching environment that brings together digital learning and conventional classroom instruction.
The design allows teachers to move seamlessly between digital content and traditional board work. The interactive screen can be used for videos, animations, illustrations, presentations and graphical demonstrations, among other tasks, while the whiteboard provides a familiar surface for writing, explaining concepts and developing ideas.
The whiteboard enclosure also provides a protective, lockable enclosure for the interactive screen when it is not in use, helping schools safeguard the equipment while maintaining a usable writing surface.
At St Faustina Kerugoya Girls, Principal Joyce Githinji says the installation of the Hybrid Teaching Board Combo has had a significant impact on teaching and learning.
She says the smart interactive screen and conventional whiteboard complement each other while providing a practical and learner-friendly classroom environment.
“The learners do not have to have a teacher in class when they are doing group work. It helps them a lot during group discussions,” she says.
According to Githinji, the protective design also allows the screens to remain safely installed in classrooms. When the interactive screen is not being used, the whiteboard enclosure can be closed to provide additional protection.
The positive experience has prompted the school to acquire a second unit, she adds, reflecting growing demand for the technology.
Teachers at the school say the ability to combine multimedia resources with conventional board work is particularly useful when teaching subjects that require learners to visualise complex concepts.
Mr Wachira, a biology teacher at the school, says learners can interact with digital content while simultaneously using the whiteboard to explain concepts, develop ideas and participate in discussions.
“Videos, illustrations and other visual learning materials can help learners understand concepts that may be difficult to grasp through theoretical explanations alone,” he says.
The approach also gives learners opportunities to participate actively in lessons rather than simply receiving information from the teacher. Learners can explain concepts in their own words, demonstrate their understanding, and collaborate with classmates.
Smart interactive teaching screens are designed to combine touchscreen interaction, digital content and conventional teaching techniques in a single learning environment.
The Hybrid Teaching Board Combo extends this approach by giving teachers the flexibility to move between digital presentations and writing on a conventional whiteboard without having to choose between the two methods.
The screens also provide access to educational content that can be used offline, allowing teachers and learners to continue accessing digital learning materials even when internet connectivity is unavailable.
Smart Schools Technologies says its solutions are designed to support schools as they embrace digital transformation and modernise classroom instruction.
Its smart interactive teaching screens incorporate computing capabilities, an operating system and teaching tools into a single touchscreen device.
The company has developed its solutions with the Competency-Based Education (CBE) environment in mind, supporting activities such as research, collaboration, presentations, demonstrations and interactive lesson delivery.
The technology has been deployed in more than 500 schools across Kenya, including Kapsabet High School, Pangani Girls, Maranda School, Good Testimony International Schools, Maryhill Girls High School, Mang'u High School, Thika High School, Machakos School and Golden Elites, among others.
Contact: Smart Schools Technologies Ltd
https://www.smartschoolstechnologies.com/
Tell. +254725879488
Email. smartschoolstechnologies@gmail.com
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