Digital Whiteboard and Screen Sharing

It is recommended that you open a screen share in Zoom and use a Word document or a Zoom or Microsoft Whiteboard to write your lecture notes instead of attempting to use an in-class chalkboard or whiteboard. 


The Owl works best if you share your Zoom screen rather than trying to capture the projected image on the classroom projector screen with the Owl’s camera. It is NOT recommended to try and capture the projector screen in the room. Zoom cannot use the overhead projectors as a video feed and thus cannot be shared. Be sure to have the applications that you will be sharing open prior to the start of the meeting (e.g., PowerPoint, browser window, etc.) to avoid delays.


You can save the Zoom whiteboard as an image file to reference or share at later time.


Classroom Chalkboards and Whiteboards

Owl Camera

If you would like to use a chalkboard or whiteboard with Owl the following tips may help improve the student remote experience:

  • The Owl will best capture an in-class chalkboard or whiteboard that is roughly 4-6 feet away. For a whiteboard a black marker is preferable.
  • Write large, 3 or 4 inches high.
  • Reduce glare from windows by drawing shades, if possible.
  • Using a chalkboard or whiteboard may require you to allow time for the Owl to locate your voice. You should try to remain near the board and limit movement when speaking to allow remote students time to take notes.
  • Although the camera will capture much of the whiteboard, writing that is not directly in front of it may be difficult for remote students to read.

Sony Camera

If you are using the Sony camera in a lecture hall, the following tips may help improve the remote student experience:

  • Use the zoom, pan and tilt functions located in the “Zoom Controls” portion of the podium touch-screen control panel.
  • Utilize the board lighting at the front of the room to illuminate the chalkboard or whiteboard.
  • If utilizing the whiteboard, use a black marker and write large, 3 or 4 inches high.
  • If using a document camera, set the doc cam to one of the projectors and zoom in on that screen using the zoom controls located in the podium touch screen control panel.
  • To give your remote students a view the entire room, zoom out as far as possible.