If you are teaching classes online or providing tutoring, you need to convey complex concepts, equations and diagrams to students quickly and often on the fly.
But only audio and visual contact is not enough here. It becomes really hard for students to actually get what the teacher is trying to say.
In this case, pen tablets and virtual whiteboards are a great help. pen tablet allows you to write on your computer screen as though you were writing with your hand.
The realistic digital pen recreates the classroom experience at home, helping teachers and students to digitally collaborate.
It gives teachers and students the freedom to write, annotate, create, collaborate, take notes, draw, study or teach in ways like never before.
Today, there are Plenty of pen tablets available on the market. However, not all of them offer the same quality in terms of writing experience.
Furthermore, As all teachers are unique, the needs of each teacher will vary.
In this article, 12 of the best digital writing pen tablets for online teaching in 2023 are introduced.
We cover various sizes and types, from small, portable tablets that can be used on the go to larger, more feature-rich display tablets that are better suited for use in an office or home setting.
They will definitely help you excel in teaching online, video conferencing, and creating tutorials.
What's a drawing tablet and what types are there?
Graphic tablet is basically a computer input device, allowing the user to draw, write and scribble freehand just like doing on paper. It is also called pen tablet, drawing tablet, or digital art board.
It is an extremely popular device for digital artists, graphic designers, teachers, students, painters, draftsmen and photographers. Wacom, XP-Pen, and Huion are some popular brands in the production of a pen tablet.
There are three main types of graphic tablets with different structures and functions.
The first type of graphic tablet does not have its own screen. It has a sheet of paper type work surface and a stylus. They can be wired or wirelessly connected to the computer.
These are the cheapest, but these require great hand eye coordination. You look at your computer screen while drawing on the pen tablet. The most popular options are Wacom Intuos, Huion inspiroy, and XP-Pen Deco.
The second type of graphic tablet is a device with its own display. You can draw directly on it. But they still need to be connected to a computer, for power and to use programs.
This type of graphic tablet is generally much more expensive than standard tablets but offers natural working conditions. The most popular options are Wacom Cintiq, Huion Kamvas, and XP-Pen Artist.
We only recommend them to people who have money to blow or are serious about drawing or teaching digitally.
The third type of graphic tablet is a device with its own display, computer and stylus. These are amongst the more expensive option, but are incredibly portable, since they don't require a computer to run.
Apple iPad (iOS), Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android) and Microsoft Surface (Windows) are a super great choice these days as they offer a lot of power in a compact portable form.
What hardware do teachers need to start teaching online?
The most basic equipment for online teaching is a laptop (Windows, Mac or Chromebook) with a camera, microphone, and internet connection. Beyond that, you'll need a fast internet and adequate lighting.
However, for interactive online classes, or subjects that rely heavily on graphs, formulas and visualisation, such as Mathematics and Science, a pen tablet can be an extremely useful addition to the setup.
Which video conference platforms can be used for online classes?
Microsoft Teams, Google Meet and Zoom are some of the more common video conferencing software and a great way for teachers to connect to students.
They offer group chats, screen sharing and video conferencing capabilities, thereby creating a more collaborative classroom environment.
All three software are free of charge for private users and run on most operating systems and web browsers.
Educators can conduct lessons through desktop sharing by presenting the prepare materials (e.g. Powerpoint slides).
What software are available for teachers?
The most popular software include the Microsoft Office (Word, Powepoint, Excel, OneNote.) suite of products as well as Adobe Acrobat or any other program for annotating PDF files. These software can be used to prepare lessons and create online teaching materials for the virtual classroom.
Online whiteboards allow teachers and students to replicate the experience of a physical whiteboard online, with an infinite canvas. some of the most popular options include Microsoft Whiteboard, Google Jamboard, Openboard, BitPaper, Whiteboard.fi, Explain Everything, Miro, Ziteboard, Limnu and more.
Bring your class to life by using annotation or the live drawing functionality of these software.
Why get a drawing tablet for online teaching?
Have you ever used a digital whiteboard tool like Openboard and been forced to use your mouse to create barely legible text?
It is impossible to achieve the same level of fluidity that you get with a marker pen and whiteboard using a mouse.
With pen tablets, you can write with ease – from digital handwriting to sketching to mind mapping to annotating and grading.
If you are a math and science teacher, you will love using Wacom's products to handwrite equations and create diagrams.
12 Best Drawing Tablets for Online Teaching
You don't have to have a full-fledged pen tablet to be able to draw, doodle, hand-write and operate on a whiteboard or other app in general more conveniently.
An affordable drawing tablet that connects to any Windows, Mac or a Chrome OS computer will do the job!
Let's now go through our picks for the 12 best digital pen tablets for online teaching in 2023.
1. One by Wacom, 2. XP-Pen Deco Fun, 3. Huion H420, 4. Gaomon S620, 5. Veikk S640, 6. Ugee S640, 7. Wacom One Display, 8. XP-Pen Artist 10 (2nd Gen), 9. Huion Kamvas 12, 10. Apple iPad (9th gen), 11. Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite, 12. Microsoft surface Go 3.
Conclusion
Pen tablets are invaluable tools for online teaching. They greatly facilitate your writing quality and help you connect better with your students.
All of these pen tablets are great at their own place. So whether you're looking for the basics or a premium option, we have you covered in this list.
The selection will rely on a number of factors, including your budget, the frequency of use, and any specialized features you may require or want.
You should make a list of your needs so you can check that each tablet covers your needs.
Source: https://pctechtest.com/best-digital-writing-pads-for-online-teaching
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