Tutor Guides
Using the Whiteboard
Master the interactive whiteboard for effective visual teaching during live sessions.
Using the Whiteboard
The interactive whiteboard is your key teaching tool. Master it to deliver engaging, visual lessons.
Whiteboard Overview
Tutor Connecxion's whiteboard is powered by Excalidraw, providing a natural, hand-drawn feel perfect for teaching.
Key Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Real-time sync | Both participants see changes instantly |
| Infinite canvas | Unlimited space to work |
| Multiple tools | Drawing, shapes, text, and more |
| Color options | Organize with colors |
| Undo/Redo | Easily correct mistakes |
Whiteboard Tools
Selection Tool
- Click to select an element
- Drag to move selected elements
- Resize using corner handles
- Delete with backspace/delete key
Drawing Tool (Pen)
Freehand drawing for:
- Diagrams and sketches
- Underlining and highlighting
- Quick annotations
- Mathematical work
Tip: Use a drawing tablet if you do a lot of whiteboard work. It's much more natural than a mouse!
Shapes
Pre-made shapes for clean diagrams:
| Shape | Best Used For |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | Boxes, containers, areas |
| Circle/Ellipse | Venn diagrams, highlighting |
| Arrow | Pointing, flow, connections |
| Line | Connections, divisions |
| Diamond | Decision points, emphasis |
Text Tool
Add typed text anywhere:
- Select the text tool
- Click where you want text
- Type your content
- Click elsewhere to finish
Text is great for:
- Labels and annotations
- Longer explanations
- Problem statements
- Headers and organization
Eraser
Remove specific elements:
- Click on elements to delete them
- Faster than selecting and pressing delete
- Precise control over what's removed
Colors and Styling
Changing Colors
- Select an element or tool
- Click the color picker
- Choose stroke color (outline)
- Choose fill color (inside)
Color Strategy
Use colors purposefully:
- Black/Dark — Main content
- Blue — Examples or solutions
- Red — Errors or warnings
- Green — Correct answers or positive feedback
- Yellow/Orange — Highlights or attention
Teaching Techniques
Building Concepts Step-by-Step
- Start with a clean area
- Draw the basic structure
- Add details progressively
- Let the student follow along
- Leave time for questions at each step
Side-by-Side Comparison
Use the infinite canvas to show:
- Correct vs. incorrect examples
- Before and after
- Different methods for the same problem
- Student's work next to model answer
Student Collaboration
During sessions, students can draw too:
- Ask them to show their work
- Have them label diagrams
- Work through problems together
- Let them practice while you watch
Whiteboard Best Practices
Clear Organization
Keep it clean:
- Use different areas for different topics
- Leave space between sections
- Clean up as you go
- Use colors to organize
Pacing
- Don't draw too fast—students need to follow
- Pause after completing sections
- Check understanding before moving on
- Leave drawing visible while explaining
Engagement
- Ask students to predict next steps
- Have them draw their solutions
- Use colors to show their input vs. yours
- Make it interactive, not just a lecture
Troubleshooting
Whiteboard Lag
If the whiteboard feels slow:
- Close unnecessary browser tabs
- Check your internet connection
- Try refreshing the session page
- Simplify complex drawings
Elements Not Syncing
If the student can't see your drawing:
- Wait a moment—sync can take a second
- Ask them to refresh
- Check if they're properly connected
- Try adjusting simpler elements first
Accidental Deletions
- Use Ctrl+Z (Cmd+Z on Mac) to undo
- Multiple undos available
- Redo with Ctrl+Shift+Z
Preparing Whiteboard Content
Before Sessions
You can prepare by:
- Having common diagrams ready to paste
- Preparing problem sets in a text document
- Knowing what you'll draw in advance
- Practicing complex diagrams
Templates (Coming Soon)
Future updates will allow saving and loading whiteboard templates for common teaching resources.