Last week, we summarized the history of the chalkboard and how the white board has quickly taken over in classrooms and board rooms across the nation and around the world. But what prompted the change? As we noted before, people believed that chalkboard dust could pollute the air and interfere with the function of computers, so they started switching to white boards. But as an interesting article from CNN.com points out, chalkboards and white boards feature the same basic porcelain on steel composition. Chalkboards feature a satin finish to work with chalk, and white boards feature a glossy finish to work with markers.
So which is better? My guess is that it may be as much a matter of personal preference as it is science on either side. Chalkboard apologists might say a firmer writing surface with more resistance teaches students to improve their handwriting one stroke at a time, while white board fans probably prefer the smoother surface, reduced dust, and potentially better surface visibility, among other things. Regardless, I’m honestly curious about whether the progression from chalkboard to white board represents a Darwinian natural selection of sorts, or whether it’s simply a change in taste, marketing, and manufacturing. My gut tells me it’s a bit of everything, but maybe there’s some scientific evidence out there to definitively prove the unqualified superiority of a white board. If you have any insight or information to offer, feel free to leave a comment. Until then, I’ll be seeking enlightenment through Google.
Posted by Taeho Lim
