It is most universally used of all the teaching aids. It is not itself a visual material but a vehicle for a variety of visual materials. It is one of the cheapest, most effective, and versatile and easiest to use of all the visual aids.
The same black board can be used for flannel graph. It can be used as a screen in showing slides or film strips, by covering it with a clean cloth.
There are two basic kinds of chalk boards
Rigid and roll-up.
The rigid type is more durable and easier to use, although not easily portable due to its size and weight. These are made up of wood, plywood, metal, fiberboard or even heavy card board.
The roll-up is lighter, more compact and hence more easily portable. These are usually made of heavy cloth, canvas or oil cloth, coated with the chalk board paint slating. It should be placed against a smooth flat surface like a wall or up-turned table, so that chalk pressure can be applied at any point on the surface to give a good impression.
Yellow chalk on dark green paint gives better visibility than white chalk on black paint.
Suggestions for using the Chalk Board:
Have it clean
Use clean eraser
Write in large letters
Don’t talk as you write
Face group after and continue the discussion
Don’t fill the board-avoid clutter
Don’t use abbreviations
Keep drawings simple
Use coloured chalk. Yellow chalk is good at night
Don’t stand in front of the blackboard, stand to one side.
Participants