The Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy introduced lightboard learning technology over the summer. The lightboard originated at Northwestern University, where its inventor, Michael Peshkin, created an open source repository to share with others how to build and use a lightboard for teaching, lightboard.info/.
In a lightboard video, the instructor is not just a voice over slides or a disembodied hand writing out equations. Using lightboard technology, the instructor faces the camera and is more “present” while sharing content such as diagrams, equations, formulas, or processes with students in a visually compelling way. By incorporating a computer into the setup, slides and other content, such as 3D models, can be overlaid on the video for the instructor to annotate or demonstrate.
Professor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences Jennifer Bryant, Ph.D., has been an early adopter of creating “flipped’ classroom videos for P1 students in a fall foundational science course. Dr. Bryant found that while it took a little time to learn how to present information effectively using the board, it grew easier with each recording. She said she looks forward to using the lightboard when she comes back from her sabbatical in the spring
Early feedback she collected from students who watched the video was generally very positive.
“I loved seeing the processes drawn out. Visualization is really important for me, and it’s easier to connect and watch you draw it out, rather than already having a picture up on a PowerPoint and labeled. When you draw it, it comes together much easier.”
– P1 student survey response
Chair and Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice Jeremy Fox, Pharm.D., plans to create lightboard recordings in his spring Renal course. Dr. Fox has incorporated “flipped’ classroom recordings in past versions of the course, but said he looks forward to using drawing and annotations to create richer learning materials for the students.
The current lightboard studio includes:
- 4-foot by 6-foot Starphire glass in a frame with LED lights around edges
- A key light and fill light
- Black backdrop
- Canon video camera with built-in image flipping
- Wireless microphone
- A set of neon window markers
- Glass cleaner and microfiber rags
- Windows PC with recording software
If you are interested in seeing a lightboard demo, please contact Leigh Bauserman at lbauserm@su.edu.
Article by Leigh Bauserman
