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[sillygoosegirl]

Poll What is the attraction to the whiteboard/blackboard?

Comments

[paperclippy]

I checked off other in addition to some of the above ones. One major reason I use a whiteboard is because whatever I am drawing is too big to fit on a piece of paper (unles my writing was teeny tiny and unreadable).

[theonlyasd]

Brainstorming is easier when you can map outward from a space and work in subgroupings, something that's best done on a wide surface enabling you to concentrate on different areas at a time or step back to assess as a collection. If you're going to write down and across a surface like a sheet of paper, it seems easier if you use something your eyes can track over completely at one time.

[memnus]

For me, teaching is a lot easier when you can use large pictures, with the ability to quickly erase and show changes - especially when teaching about moderately complex data structures. This applies just as much to one-on-one tutoring sessions (where paper might be otherwise practical) as it does to full classes.

Also, a whiteboard on the refrigerator is a great way to communicate with roommates, for things like "I made muffins, eat them!"

[tortoise]

* Erasability is really handy, especially when you're working your way through messy algebra.
* In addition to being able to write bigger (which I do think is useful), I can write more without having to specifically worry about organization (i.e., which sheet of paper stuff should go on).

[origamist]

I can erase a whiteboard much more quickly and thoroughly than paper. I can both use multiple colors and erase a whiteboard, which I can't do well with paper. I have paper, but I would use a lot of it if I didn't use the whiteboard, most of it for things I don't need to save.