I teach a class called Web English and use a computer lab with monitors and OHC. I used to use the whiteboard, and still do a little, but while using one of the labs that contained a very long (full length of a 60 foot classroom) whiteboard, I got so tired of running up and down the front of the room and having to write things on both ends of it because of the angle making it nearly illegible from either opposite end.
Yes, my handwriting being so bad added to the problem.
Since we have center monitors for all of the rows of computers and islands and an OHC, I thought I would write notes and use that.
I bought a small whiteboard that fits in my bag and use that for most of my notes. I use a fine point marker on it and then only use the wall whiteboard for some extra notes and drawings for examples.
This has been a big help to me and I thought others might benefit from doing something similar. Besides the fact that every time you turn your back on any classroom full of students, even to write important information on the whiteboard, you are fighting a losing battle trying to keep their attention from waning. That is doubly, or more, difficult when they have the internet in front of them and it is part of the class.
Using the small whiteboard allows me to write and watch and engage them at the same time and not run up and down the front of the classroom.
I usually put a drawing and short message on the board when I first set things up so there is something showing on the monitors for students when they turn them on.
I’ve been playing around with little faces and characters to keep things interesting and to let me know if monitors are on and students are paying attention.
Here’s last Friday’s drawing as an example. You’ll see it’s nothing special, but just to give you an idea. And yes, I know the drawing is evidence of why I’m a professor and not an artist 😉
