How to Take Handwriting Online

Writing on a chalkboard or whiteboard is used extensively as part of the teaching process in the classroom. How can this practice best be moved online? This page breaks down the hardware and software needed for three solutions to this problem.

For more handwriting solutions, please check out Handwriting Online Tools on the Canvas Learning Center.

 

Before You Begin

The following three solutions work for both live and recorded sessions. However, in planning for either of these types of sessions, consider if you can convert any of the text you would normally handwrite into a digital document that can then be annotated during your session. For example, move text into a Word document or formulas into a LaTeX document. Remember the days of plastic transparencies? Create digital documents (the base transparency) that you can write over and annotate again and again. Pre-converting handwritten materials to digital versions means that your content will be easier for your students to read online and you can spend more time focusing on delivering your content than writing.

When selecting a handwriting solution, consider these questions:

1. What kind of writing do you need to do?
   How much of your online sessions will you be writing? If you will predominantly be annotating presentations or other digital content, choose whatever solution seems the most intuitive and easiest for you, most likely using the Zoom Whiteboard feature. If you are doing extensive handwriting, test to make sure your product is very easy for students to read and err on the side of high-resolution solutions.
   
   
2. What hardware or software are you missing?
   This article provides some examples of hardware needed for these solutions, but your specific department or school may have other requirements or supplies available for you. If you have trouble getting access to hardware before the start of the quarter, see the information below on using a cellphone as a webcam as a starter or back-up solution.
   
   
3. What’s the process from start to finish?
   After you have selected a solution you are interested in, practice running it from start to finish. Make sure you can successfully link your camera or device to screen share in Zoom before the first class in which you intend to handwrite. Check with someone else to ensure that the lighting in the room is bright enough and that the digital document is easily readable.

Read further to explore the different options for moving your handwriting process online:

• Solution 1 - Use a tablet
• Solution 2 - Use an external camera
• Solution 3 - Use a drawing tablet
• Plan for a Secondary Solution

 

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Solution 1 – Use a tablet

Connecting Your Tablet via Zoom Screen Share

When connecting a phone or tablet device to Zoom, Mac users can connect via Wi-Fi or a cable. If you are using an Android device, you will need to connect wirelessly, making sure that both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. If you have an Android device that connects via a cable, you will screen-share the specific app you are using to draw, rather than connecting directly to the device.

If connecting with a cable, in the Share Screen window, select the iPhone/iPad via Cable option and click “share screen” in the lower right corner. (See example image.)

When prompted on your iPhone or iPad, select “Trust” to accept the request from your device to “Trust This Computer?”

If you have a tablet at home that you are familiar with, this may be the easiest solution for you to implement.

 

Solution 2 – Use an external camera

External Camera Options

OPTION A USB Document Camera	OPTION B Web Camera	OPTION C Smartphone
Hardware needed: USB document camera like Longjoy LV-1 Series LV-1020 or IPEVO VZ-R HDMI/USB Dual Mode 8MP Document Camera)	Hardware needed: Webcam like Logitech C920 or Logitech B525	Hardware needed: Smartphone (Apple or Android)
Additional hardware/software: Lighting for your space (optional)	Additional hardware/software: Lighting for your space (optional) Mount (purchased or homemade)	Additional hardware/software: Lighting for your space (optional) Mount (purchased or homemade) App that enables a camera to be used as an additional webcam (like EpocCam Pro Links to an external site.)
How to use with Zoom: Select the camera view using the Share Screen feature.	How to use with Zoom: Select the camera view using the Share Screen feature.	How to use with Zoom: Select the camera view using the Share Screen feature. Make sure both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
Use if: Want a straightforward, all-in-one solution and prefer analog writing.	Use if: Already have a webcam and don’t want to purchase additional hardware or are unable to get a USB document camera.	Use if: Don’t have access to a document camera, webcam, or tablet. This is also a good secondary back-up if you are using another solution.

 

Solution 3 – Use a drawing tablet

Drawing Tablet Options

OPTION A	OPTION B	OPTION C
Hardware needed: Drawing tablet (Example: Wacom Intuos Creative Pen Medium)	Hardware needed: Drawing tablet (Example: Wacom Intuos Creative Pen Medium)	Hardware needed: Drawing tablet (Example: Wacom Intuos Creative Pen Medium)
Additional hardware/software: None	Additional hardware/software: Microsoft OneNote Links to an external site. — included with Northwestern’s Microsoft License	Additional hardware/software: Microsoft PowerPoint — included with Northwestern’s Microsoft License
How to use with Zoom: Draw in the Zoom Whiteboard feature.	How to use with Zoom: Draw in Paint, OneNote, or a drawing program and use the Share Screen feature in Zoom.	How to use with Zoom: Draw on top of PowerPoint presentations using the “pen” feature and use the Share Screen feature in Zoom.
Use if: Want a digital writing option but something simpler than a tablet.	Use if: Want a digital writing option but something simpler than a tablet.	Use if: Want to annotate documents during presentations.

 

Plan for a Secondary Solution

Whatever solution you chose for moving your handwriting online, remember to practice before your first class. If the ability to handwrite is absolutely critical to your synchronous sessions, make sure to have a back-up strategy in place in case you have a problem with your primary devices. This could include using your smartphone as a camera or it could include having a co-teacher or TA writing instead. If you have any creative solutions to take handwriting online, please share them with us!