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Digital Inking for Remote Lectures using iPad and Apple Pencil

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hands using an ipad

How can an iPad help me?

Zoom includes a built-in collaborative digital whiteboard that an instructor and students can draw on together in real-time. It works with a mouse, touchpad, or touch screen on most devices (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPad, but NOT iPhone). This is sufficient for simple drawing or writing.

However, instructors who desire a more high-fidelity solution, for more intricate drawing and handwriting, may benefit from using an iPad and Apple Pencil with Zoom or other presentation software such as PowerPoint. This solution can replicate drawing complex figures on a classroom whiteboard or annotating over a slide presentation.

How does it work?

Join a Zoom meeting from an iPad and screen share the iPad to the Zoom meeting. Zoom for iPad has a built-in whiteboarding feature that works seamlessly with the Apple Pencil. You can start drawing on the shared whiteboard and everyone in the Zoom meeting can see it. 

Alternatively, you can open your PowerPoint or Keynote presentation on the iPad, then screen-share that to Zoom. Both PowerPoint and Keynote on the iPad have drawing and annotation tools built-in so you can draw over your slides and save those annotations if desired. Google Slides does not support drawing or annotation on the iPad.

How do I get an iPad?

Request an iPad using the iPads for Teaching and Learning request form. You will then receive an email confirmation from our staff with instructions on when and where to pick up the iPad. 

We will process requests as quickly as possible but may take up to 24 hours. Due to the limited supply of iPads, we may not be able to accommodate all requests. Thank you for your understanding.

How do I use PowerPoint and Zoom with my iPad?

View instructions for How to use Powerpoint and Zoom with iPad

How do I Zoom whiteboard with my iPad?

View instructions for How to use Zoom whiteboard with iPad

What more could I do with my iPad?

View Starter Guide for iPads for Teaching and Learning 

Questions?

About iPads for Teaching and Learning 

  • Email iPadsForTeaching@stanford.edu

    Center for Teaching and Learning
    408 Panama Mall, Room 119

    Kristin Arguedas
    Academic Technology Specialist

About Zoom Web Meeting

About Box, Drive, Office 365

  • Call University IT (UIT) Service Desk at 650.725.4357 (option 5)

Submit a UIT support request