Lecture Annotation Options for Remote and Hybrid Instruction

If you want to incorporate writing or annotating into your online or hybrid teaching, here are some options you can try.

Annotating and sharing with an iPad

You can connect you iPad to a Zoom meeting and share the screen.

  • Sharing your iPad screen from the desktop Zoom Client
    • For best results when connecting to your computer, use the "wired connection" option when sharing your iPad (although this option may not be available for older iPads).
    • Connecting your iPad to Zoom on your computer is the easiest way to see and interact with students on Zoom while you use the iPad to annotate your lecture.

iOS apps you can use to annotate on your iPad:

  • PowerPoint for iPad supports annotation with the Apple Pencil, and the annotations can be saved with the file when finish the lecture. Note that you will need to log into Office365 with your Tufts credentials to unlock the annotation features.
  • Notability is another app that some faculty have recommended to us, but it costs $8.99.

Annotating on your computer a Wacom tablet

A Wacom tablet, which connects to your computer via USB, can give you the feel of "writing" on your computer. The tablet will allow you to annotate on any software on you computer that supports a writing interface, such as PowerPoint in slideshow mode or the Zoom whiteboard feature.

Here is a good video on how to set up a Wacom tablet for using with PowerPoint.

Using a mobile device as a document camera

If you would be more comfortable writing on paper, it is possible to use your smartphone as a document camera (assuming you have a means to hold it above the paper). Gooseneck phone holders, like this $13 one on Amazon, are ideal for this kind of setup.

Here are helpful instructions and video on how to do this: