Multiple Writing Surfaces

Overview

Multiple writing surfaces promote collaboration by allowing groups to share information easily as they work. When a variety of writing surfaces are provided, learners also have choice in which writing surface they use.

Use It in the Classroom

Watch how this elementary school uses smart wall paint to allow students to write on the walls and tables with dry erase markers. By painting multiple surfaces, students have easy access to a fun writing surface that can also be used collaboratively.

Teachers can provide different writing surfaces, such as whiteboards, dry erase sleeves, and tables, to encourage student choice based on their preferences. Multiple writing surfaces on the walls also give students and teachers flexibility and space to move around the room, allowing students to see each other's ideas and build on them.

Design It into Your Product

Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.

Learn how products like Post-it Super Sticky Dry Erase Surface allow students and teachers to quickly transform any surface into a whiteboard. By having the flexibility and ease of sticking the dry erase surface on anything, students can creatively write anywhere.

Designing digital learning spaces with multiple writing interfaces, such as typing and touchpads, facilitates brainstorming among learners and also the delivery of shared instructional material.

View References

Resources

Below are additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.

Examples

Video of Multiple Writing Surfaces

San Juan Unified School District upgraded their schools with multiple writing surfaces

Research

Teaching for Collaboration & Creativity

Subtopic that includes research on instructional approaches to encourage collective problem-solving on Digital Promise's Research Map