Over the past season we have had to adapt and adjust to a new way of living, working and learning. So much more of what we just took for granted and did face to face, is no longer something we can take for granted. The educational system and process has had to find ways to quickly adapt and change. One of the ways has been through doing more learning and teaching online. For math students, this means we have to write math online somehow.
While there are many advantages, there are also many disadvantages to all these changes. One way to get more out of your online learning experience is with technology and hardware. Touch screen computers are becoming more mainstream but not everyone has one, yet. Touch screen can be very helpful when it comes to online learning. Writing is an important means of communicating and tool for learning. Using an online whiteboard helps allow for this. Many of these online whiteboards which we reviewed earlier, allow all users to ‘write’ on the whiteboard. However, ‘writing’ can prove challenging when working with a mouse and computer screen. This is where the tools we have to work with can greatly affect and enhance the experience. For the writing experience a mouse can be very difficult to work with especially when writing mathematics. This where having a `pen’ or stylus can make a huge difference.
Suggestions to write math online
Since the beginning of Covid there are have been people sharing their experience and knowledge on how to overcome some of these new issues with online learning and teaching. In particular, the challenge of writing. Rather than rewriting the words of others, below are some posts that talk about different stylus and pad options for computers including the benefits and how to use them.
Best digital writing drawing pad tablet for online tutoring, teaching and distance e-learning courses, Bob, Apr 3, 2020, XP Pen, URL: https://www.xp-pen.com/forum-518.html
The best drawing tablet for online tutoring, Will Chambers, April 21, 2020, bramble, URL: https://about.bramble.io/blog/best-drawing-tablet-for-online-tutoring.html
Best Pen Tablet for Online Tutoring, Matt Thompson, Smart Online Tutoring, URL: https://smartonlinetutoring.com/best-pen-tablet-for-online-tutoring
Best digital drawing/writing pad tablet for online tutoring, teaching and distance elearning courses, April 3, 2020, Medium, URL: https://medium.com/@cestarian/best-digital-drawing-writing-pad-tablet-for-online-tutoring-teaching-and-distance-learning-c8281d54172f
OUR options for writing math online
If you have a touch screen computer and a stylus, even better. You just use the stylus and ‘write’ on you screen. However, many of us don’t have this option. The next best thing is to buy a stylus and touch pad that can be plugged into your computer through a USB port. Now you have an easier and smoother writing experience. Below are some options for stylus’ to add to your set of learning tools this September.
There are many options for stylus’s. If you have a touch-screen especially, there is a huge selection out there such as the Wacom Bamboo Stylus:
https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/wacom-bamboo-ink-stylus-for-windows-ink-grey/13990388?cmp=knc-s-71700000061237381&gclid=CjwKCAjw9vn4BRBaEiwAh0muDD9R_yKS8g_d5kXxosQLzg1ZXTwZPz04zWHFiZb8sK2417SzcwLwHRoC6x4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
If you do not, then there are equally good options like the Huion H420 USB Graphics Drawing Tablet:
Alternatives to "writing" on you computer
When having to graph or write quickly on a computer screen during a tutorial session, having something that you can use like a pen and paper is very helpful for many students. It’s not possible for everyone to go out and purchase new technology. So, what other ways can the communication and sharing of writing be done? Below are a few ideas that can be used on short notice:
- Pencil/pen and paper. Just write the exercises, formulas, steps etc on a piece of paper and hold it up to the camera on your computer and share the information that way.
- If the student or tutor/teacher has a physical white board, pointing the camera towards the whiteboard and writing the material, solutions etc on that. This way the other person can hopefully see what is being written while it’s being written.
- Online whiteboards are there and can be used with a mouse and so can be used by anyone. It does require a bit of skill to get used to writing with a mouse, but it’s not impossible.
- Preparing the lesson and solutions beforehand and taking pictures or having digital copies available to share to all participants so everyone can following along, can also be a way to overcome some of the limitations of not being in a physical classroom setting.
