Technology Options: Whiteboard and Annotation​​​​​​​

Step 1: Deciding what you need:

Start by asking a few questions about your use case:

  1. How often will you need to use a whiteboard or annotate?
  2. Will you be writing complex equations?
  3. Will your board work include mapping, diagrams, or intricate details?
  4. Will your board work be words, symbols, or complex math?

Step 2: Map your answers

Infrequent use Frequent use
Use case
  • Infrequent use
  • No equations
  • No maps, diagrams, or intricate details
  • Just words. No math or symbols
  • Frequent use
  • Math and equations
  • Use of diagrams and intricate details
  • Symbols, complex math, and text
Consider
  • using your existing computer with Zoom, share the whiteboard, and use your mouse (or touchpad) to draw or write (you can also annotate over a shared desktop screen such as a PowerPoint slide or Word document)
  • use your existing computer with Zoom, share the whiteboard, and type on the whiteboard (could also be done in sharing a Word document and typing or Excel Spreadsheet)
  • use a document camera/ web camera placed above a piece of paper to write or draw
  • a monitor with touch capabilities and a stylus ​​​​​​​
  • iPad and an Apple Pencil work great (but please, do not buy refurbished, the cost difference is minimal and the trouble can be more costly)
  • Wacom drawing tablet with Zoom Whiteboard feature – this is a mouse like solution where you use a stylus on a blank pad and look at your computer screen to see what you are writing.
  • ​​​​​​​Microsoft Surface ​​​​​​