The cause of many debates over the last few decades; a chalk board or a whiteboard?
With strong arguments for both sides we decided to have a look at the pros and cons of both to help you make your decision.
The Chalkboard
Pros of a chalkboard
Aesthetics
- A chalk board is always pleasing to the eye, the dark colour blends into the background of a room as well and many people who are renovating homes are now breathing new life into old chalkboards they remember from their school days.
Easier to write
- There have been many a passionate argument made that chalk is easier to write with than a whiteboard marker, this is because even the lightest stroke will mark the chalkboard, extremely useful if you are working through a mathematics problem or equation.
Chalk doesn’t dry out
- Unlike its whiteboard alternative the marker pen, which do tend to dry out quite quickly (even more so if you haven’t put the lid on properly), chalk will not dry out. Not only that, but chalk is incredibly inexpensive to replace when you do eventually run out.
Cons of a chalkboard
Chalk is easily erased
- Whilst it’s a given that anything on a chalkboard is temporary, it can be annoying if you want to retain information on there for a few days, as even brushing past can rub off what’s on the board.
Chalk Dust
- Whenever you erase your chalkboard it will produce a small cloud of chalk dust, this usually hangs in the air, especially if the windows are shut. This really is not ideal if you or anyone in the room suffer from breathing difficulties or asthma. Regular use of chalk can also cause very dry skin and other dermatological problems.
Damage to objects
- Chalk dust isn’t just harmful to us humans either, it can cause all sorts of havoc with modern technology, the dust particles are especially attracted to PC’s and can cause damage to the delicate components.
The Whiteboard
Pros of a whiteboard
No Chalk Dust
- Because whiteboards use marker pens, there is no chalk dust to worry about when writing or erasing/wiping your writing off the board.
Clarity
- One of the main advantages of a whiteboard is the clarity. It is much easier to read the writing on a whiteboard than a chalkboard due to the clean white background. There is also the added bonus of being able to use different coloured markers easily as they stand out much more than coloured chalk does on a chalkboard.
Easy to erase
- Compared to their chalkboard cousins, whiteboards are substantially easier to wipe clean and maintain.
Projection
- The great benefit of a whiteboard is that teachers can use it to project videos or photo slides during class, this is because the board has a non-reflective surface.
Cons of a whiteboard
Markers
- Making sure you have the correct markers for your whiteboard is important for the longevity you get out of the board. This can be confusing as there are so many different type out on the market now, make sure that any pens you use are dry wipe. Also, if lids aren't placed on properly then you will be back down the store replacing them, and they are not as cheap to replenish as chalk.
Low Quality
- If you end up going for a cheaper whiteboard, you could be compromising on the quality of the board. Cheaper boards can end up causing a ghosting effect which leaves some residue from your marker on the surface which will get more porous over time.
Hard To See
- If you have a big audience or classroom you may find that some of the student/attendees have a hard time reading what is on the white boards more so than chalkboards.