Role and Place of Chalkboard Teaching in the Era of Digital Tech-enabled Classrooms

Abstract

Education plays an important role in widening access to knowledge and supporting intellectual development. This study examined the role, perceived effectiveness and practical relevance of chalkboard teaching in technology-enabled classrooms. A survey-based investigation was conducted among 314 students from higher education institutions in five districts of Himachal Pradesh and 71 teachers from schools and colleges. The study considered respondents' experiences with chalkboard teaching, Power Point, Power Point with a whiteboard and interactive teaching aids. The findings indicate that chalkboard teaching remains relevant because it is economical, easy to use, manageable and independent of continuous electricity or internet connectivity. Students particularly recognised its usefulness in science subjects, where diagrams, equations and stepwise explanations are important. However, many students preferred Power Point with a whiteboard because it offered better visibility, colour, images and structured presentation. Teachers reported frequent use of the chalkboard and valued its suitability for maintaining interaction, eye contact, gradual explanation and flow (effective focus) during lectures. The findings suggest that chalkboard teaching and digital teaching aids should not be viewed as competing methods. Instead, their combined use may be suitable according to subject matter, class size, infrastructure and learning objectives. The study highlights the continuing place of chalkboard teaching, especially in rural higher education contexts where technological infrastructure may be limited.