Blackboard order

A proper blackboard order is a must.

First, the handwriting: Only use capital letters when something should be stressed. Otherwise, use normal handwriting. There should be a little space between the individual letters, and the size should equal a handbreadth: around 10 centimetres.

Second, the use of the blackboard: Divide the blackboard into parts that are filled one by one. When there is no more space in the last part, the information in the first part is wiped out, and you start all over again – that is, writing in part one, wiping out and writing in part two, etc. Thus, the students get sufficient time to write notes themselves and are not left with unfinished sentences and fragments in their own notes.

If the lecturer does not need to use the blackboard continuously, but only for key terms and keywords now and then, s/he should definitely wipe out what has been written already when there is no need for it anymore. If things like this remain on the blackboard, it is noise to the students, and it takes away their attention to what is going on afterwards – often such key terms/keywords are written all over the board where there was some free space, and this does not make it easier for the students to follow the flow of information.

If there are whiteboards in the classroom, green pens should be avoided. Green on a white background is more or less impossible to see and read. Instead, use black or blue and red for underlining. Bring your own pens – and chalk – to be on the safe side.