--- Forwarded Message from Steve & Laura Spinella <[log in to unmask]> ---

>Date: Fri, 16 Apr 1999 08:52:20 +0800
>From: Steve & Laura Spinella <[log in to unmask]>
>Organization: Center for Counseling and Growth
>To: Language Learning and Technology International Information Forum <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Erasing Whiteboards
>References: <[log in to unmask]>

------------------
> >Date:  Wed, 14 Apr 1999 10:40:28 -1000
> >From:  Daniel Tom <[log in to unmask]>
> >To:    [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: Erasing Whiteboards
> 
> This may appear to be a rather mundane problem and certainly not very high
> tech.  However, it is a very real problem with our Japanese classes.  We
> have three media classrooms, all equipped with TV monitor, VCR, overhead
> projector, and taperecorder.  All are carpeted.  Due to all the media
> equipment, whiteboards were installed.  Two of these classrooms are used
> exclusively for Japanese classes.  The Japanese instructors are frequently
> writing kanji and often they have their students in pairs or in threes do
> kanji practice on the board.  Due to this heavy usage, the whiteboards
> have constant "ghosting" and "shadowing" from incomplete erasing...

The use of chalkboard/whiteboard is obviously so that others can see
what you are writing.  The provision of blank acetate and good overhead
pens which students use to create their samples, then share them with
the class, would certainly be an alternative strategy.  Who knows, some
of your professors might actually view this as an improvement since the
production is more like normal writing.

Of course, you could also use a video cam focused on a table top, and
voila! you can actually focus close up on regular paper.  You can even
place student work and model work side by side for detailed comparison,
and zoom in and zoom out.

One advantage of the whiteboards all around is the simultaneous
production and display.  That might be expensive to duplicate with
projection equipment.  On the other hand, simply adding a second or even
third OHP might be reasonable for you and make the difference for them. 
Obviously these can be projected on whiteboards more easily than
chalkboards. 

The ability to move back and forth between these alternatives in the
multimedia classroom may outweigh the brute force solution of
chalkboards.  

Good luck!  Steve <[log in to unmask]>

PS [Hints from Heloise, the AV tech, says] regular glass cleaner (w/
ammonia, like Windex) and paper towel make a good cleanup tool for the
residue that dry erase markers leave, and dries very fast.  Heloise
elsewhere says it is also very important to use only dry erase markers
on whiteboards as they are formulated to leave the mark on the surface,
not penetrate.  (I don't think they are water-based.)  And if your
whiteboard (on magnified inspection) has lost its finish, having cracks
etc due to overuse or misuse, it will never be the same.  One last tip
from Heloise--try Bestine (one coat rubber cement thinner) for special
purpose cleanup of such residues as scotch tape adhesive which don't
come off with the glass cleaner, on both whiteboards and OHPs.