lavagne

Lavagna is the Italian term for a writing surface used for teaching and note-taking, traditionally a chalkboard. The plural lavagne refers to multiple boards. In English, lavagna is typically translated as chalkboard or blackboard, depending on the surface and era.

Historically, lavagne were made of slate or other dark materials that provided a high-contrast background for chalk. They were common in classrooms from the 19th century onward. In the second half of the 20th century, green chalkboards became widespread in many school systems, gradually complemented or replaced by whiteboards that use dry-erase markers. In recent decades, glass boards and digital or interactive lavagne—often called lavagne digitali or lavagne interattive—have become prevalent, combining writing surfaces with projectors, computers, or touch input to capture and display notes.

In everyday use, lavagne support writing, erasing, and reusing content, with chalk or markers. Chalkboards generate chalk dust, which has implications for indoor air quality and cleaning. Whiteboards and glass boards require regular cleaning with appropriate cleaners to prevent staining or ghosting of ink; interactive boards require compatible software and hardware to enable saving, sharing, and multimedia features.

In education and business contexts, lavagne remain a common symbol of instruction and collaboration. The term also appears in literature and media as a motif of teaching, learning, and memory.

See also: blackboard, whiteboard, chalk, dry-erase marker, interactive whiteboard.