I have been using a lightboard for three or four years for my classes. I pulled together a few resources for those interested in learning more or trying to make one.
Here’s a short video clip of me using UW-Stout’s lightboard, called the Learning Glass.
For videos with me using my home-built lightboard, try my YouTube channel: McCullough Physics.
Basic info: https://lightboard.info/
Build one:
- https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Lightboard/
- https://flippedlearning.org/how_to/how-to-make-a-lightboard-for-less-than-100/
For teaching remotely, my husband Kelly made me one in our basement. His instructions are here. Mine isn’t as fancy, of course, but it does everything I need it to do!
Random notes:
- Students see my face as I’m working problems. They see me and hear me just as if I was in front of them. It’s actually more face-to-face than writing on a whiteboard in a classroom!
- I specifically chose a clip where I’m blocking some text to show that I have to be careful where I stand. It was a learning process.
- I can use four colors, using the “window glass” type dry erase markers. They come in packs of five but yellow and green are indistinguishable.
- Erasing seems to work best with a microfiber cloth.
- With the Learning Glass at Stout, I don’t want to wear all black because then I’m just a head and hands floating around. Solid dark colors are best. If I’m wearing a blue shirt, I’ll skip using the blue marker. With the lightboard at home I want to wear all black because of the other light sources; black is needed to see the text.
- I had to learn to look at the camera; I don’t like being on video. But it does make a difference!
- My international students love these videos.
- UW-Stout did the captioning on my previous videos; I need to figure out the best way to caption ones from this year.
- I discovered that early morning is not the best time for me to record. I end up squinting a lot when I look upwards because the lights are so bright! By midday my eyes are more awake.