Use iPad to Annotate Online Class

Owned by Dan Jakubiak
Last updated: Feb 15, 2022 by Sarah Nguyen (Deactivated)
3 min read

This article is for faculty and staff that teach online courses. Faculty may annotate on a virtual whiteboard during their online class with a personal or ITS-provided iPad. With the iOS app AirSketch Free, users can share their iPad's screen during a video conference call. 

This option works with any video conferencing software because it runs as a stand-alone app that can be shared in your conferencing program.

Overview

With the AirSketch Free app, your iPad can broadcast its screen across your local (home) network. Once the iPad is connected to your local network, it will broadcast the app's whiteboard to a specific IP address (network address).

You need to have a local network with Wi-Fi in your house in order to use this virtual whiteboard experience.

This IP address will be shown in the Server settings menu shown below in the instructions. On the computer that you use to operate Collaborate and/or Webex, open a web browser window and type the IP address. Be sure to type all four sets of numbers separated by periods, including the colon and the four numbers shown after it into the search bar.

Once your computer has connected to the page and you can see your annotations, open Collaborate, Webex, or other video conferencing platform and begin your Meeting/class. Once in your Meeting/class, share your screen to broadcast your annotations to your class. You may share either the web browser or your entire screen to share the virtual whiteboard.

Preparing to Annotate for your Class

  1. Obtain an iPad from ITS. Alternatively, you can use a personal iPad. If you need an iPad for teaching, send your request to the ITS Technology Support Center.

    • To use the stylus included in the ITS package with a personal iPad, the iPad must be updated to iOS 12.2 or above. 

  2. Connect the iPad to your home WiFi network. 

    • The iPad must be connected to the same network as your computer.

  3. Open the AirSketch Free app. 

    • If you are on a personal device, you can download AirSketch on the App Store. 

Annotating using the App

  1. Once you have the app open, click on the small Wi-Fi symbol in the bottom-left corner of the screen. A window that displays the IP address that the app is broadcasting to will open.

  2. Type this IP address into the computer on which you are hosting your online class. Be sure to type the entire string of numbers.

    enter the entire string of numbers into your web browser. clear the screen of all markings using the button at the bottom right. use the wifi button at the bottom left to open server settings

  3. Within your video conferencing program (Webex, Collaborate, or Teams), share this browser window to have your annotations shared in the call.

    1. To clear the screen entirely, tap on the red X in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
      Warning: There is no Undo button.

    2. To save your work, take a screenshot by pressing the Home button and Lock button at the same time. A screenshot will be saved to your Photos app.

    3. To find all of your screenshots,

      1. Tap on the Albums tab at the bottom of the Photos app.

      2. Scroll down to Media Types.

      3. Click on Screenshots. 

Using the iPad to Host the Webex Room

Users can run the video conference and whiteboard simultaneously on the iPad. Doing so negates the need for a secondary device. By signing in to the Webex Meetings app on the iPad, you can begin your Meeting/class and share the iPad's screen. If you choose to do this, ITS recommends that you use the default Notes app on the iPad. Notes is more feature-rich, allowing you to save, undo, and work on multiple pages. AirSketch Free is only required if you need to share the screen onto another device in your house.

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