The chalk and board is often used in science education because the slides can go too quickly when models and theories need to be explained and slowly constructed. Lecturers use special techniques how to use a chalk board to keep the important information all the time available on the board for students while the rest of the information is being cleaned up. In 2008 an article was published in the Dutch newspaper NRC The power of chalk which argued about the importance of using chalk and board for discussion and development of theory in natural sciences such as mathematics, physics and chemistry.

There are however strong drawbacks in using chalk and board in education.

While writing on the board the lecturer stands with his or her back to the students and cannot move away from the board
The parts of the text or drawings on the board are not physically connected.
There are more and more students who appreciate to watch video lectures due to overlap of different lectures like honors students. However good videos of the lectures with chalk and board are difficult to make especially with the technique which is used for the weblectures.
Chalk produces dust. There are lecturers who may be allergic to it.

With their grassroots project Marcel Vreeswijk, Jean Sebastièn Caux, Jan de Boer, Auke Piete Colijn, Erik van Heumen set out to explore a digital alternative.

Intervention

A digital alternative in the form a writing tablet with pen offers a solution to all of these drawbacks. The high-resolution writing tablet offers the possibility to use handwriting on the digital screen, for instance in combination with a slideshow containing other formulas, images, graphs or movies that were prepared for the lecture. The writing is stored on the computer and can be shared afterwards with the students as a document or video-recording.

Erik van Heumen giving lecture for Physics students.

Learning outcomes

The students are more actively involved during the lectures. The survey results were higher in comparison to the year before within the same course.

Process

The tablets were used for interactive lectures in different courses in Physics.

Marcel Vreeswijk teaching in C0.05

Tablets

A high-resolution writing tablet is necessary in order to write with the same amount of detail as is offered by its analogue counterpart. These tablets control the cursor of your computer and can easily be used in combination with MS Powerpoint or, alternatively, one can obtain other and better suitable software for their purposes. In the project The Power of Chalkless two types of Wacom professional drawing tablets were used.

Note: After the end of the project the TLC purchased iPads with Apple Pencils that are probably even more convenient and lack a lot of below mentioned disadvantages. To get to know more or request one click here.

Wacom Intuos Pro Medium
- Advantages
  - Wireless
  - Does not weigh much, so you can walk around with the tablet
  - Connects easily to your own computer
- Drawbacks
  - Does not contain a screen, so you look at your screen whilst you write on the tablet (like a computer mouse). This takes some getting used to!

Wacom Cintiq 13HD
- Advantages
  - Does include a screen, so you can look at what you write at the same time. Compare with a ‘regular’ tablet (like the iPad) but with a much higher resolution and a natural hand writing position.
  - H.008 and C0.05 are equipped with all the necessary hard- and software, so it is just a matter of plug-and-write.
- Drawbacks
  - Not wireless
  - Too heavy to carry around
  - Complex to connect to your own computer and the beamer in a lecture room at the same time (due to the built-in screen)
  - BUT only rooms H.008 and C0.05 are equipped with all the necessary hard- and software, so it is just a matter of plug-and-write.

Software usage (last update: 23-09-2015)
For writing

MS Powerpoint
- PC version stores annotations in the slideshow, the Mac version does not

inkBook
- Only for Mac
- No multimedia, just writing like a digital notepad

For the screen capture

Apple Quicktime
Camtasia
UvA campus licence (contact your ICT contact person), 30 days trial at Camtasia
UvA webcollegeservice
the weclecture recording needs a special setting – check at UvA webcollegeservice if the setting is correct

Evaluation

A) Experience (satisfaction) of students
The survey results were better in comparison to the year before within the same course.

B) Experience (satisfaction) of the lecturer about (re)design
Read the blog by Marcel Vreeswijk (in Dutch).

Chalkless Lectures

Motivation for this project