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Digital Whiteboarding Tools

25Feb’22

Teaching with Technology

If you typically use a whiteboard or chalkboard for lectures, recitations, or office hours, there are a number of approaches that you can use for both recorded lectures and live online meetings. 

For all of the following options, it can be helpful to run a test meeting with a colleague or local support provider to ensure the setup is working properly.

If you have questions about which whiteboarding option will meet your needs, consult with CTL.

Mounted Whiteboards

If you have access to a mounted whiteboard, you can position your laptop's webcam on a chair or small desk so that the whiteboard is in the frame during recorded or live teaching session. 

It may help to turn off the mirror setting in the video settings on your Zoom app so you can see your writing show up correctly. For your writing to be most visible, use high contrast markers and good lighting. A wireless mic is recommended for good sound quality.

When using this approach for live online meetings, it can be helpful to designate someone to help monitor the chat and point out questions or comments since you may not be able to follow these conversations from the whiteboard.

Document Cameras or Smartphone/Tablet Cameras

Document cameras can be used for drawing, writing, and/or to annotate on top of other content.

Smartphones and tablets can be used as an alternative to document cameras by joining the online meeting a second time or, for iOS devices, displaying from these secondary devices and turning on the video to use the camera as a second display that is focused on a notepad or small tabletop whiteboard. Tablet and smartphone stands can make it easier to position the device in the right direction. Some stands include additional lighting which can help make the text more visible. 

When using a secondary device: 

  • Keep that device muted to avoid audio feedback.
  • From your main computer, pin the secondary device so it is the most prominent video for all participants.

Touchscreen and Stylus

Touchscreens and tablets can be used with a stylus pen as either the primary device connected or as a secondary device that also joins the meeting. When using a secondary device: 

  • Keep that device muted to avoid audio feedback.
  • From your main computer, pin the secondary device so it is the most prominent video for all participants.

Once connected, there are a few commonly used applications that you can use to draw or write on the screen:

  • Use a built-in whiteboard tool.
  • Use annotation tools in PowerPoint or Keynote to write on top of slides or use the annotation tools to write on top of other shared content.
  • Share your screen to show other whiteboarding tools like Google Jamboard or Microsoft Whiteboard. These tools allow students to contribute to the whiteboard during online meetings, save automatically, and can be shared easily after the meeting.  

Google Documents and Other Text-Based Collaborative Tools

In situations where you need to collaboratively generate text-only content during an online meeting, Google Documents (or other collaborative note-taking tools, such as Microsoft One Note) can provide a useful alternative to a whiteboard. These notes can also be shared with students as collaborators or viewers before, during, or after the meeting.

Teaching with Technology

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