Can I have a large video/small slide chalkboard template?

We occasionally get the question of a chalkboard layout that has a large video window and small slide area. Tecnically it's not a problem but there are some usability limitations to consider.

The there are two primary reasons we don't provide a small slide option; first there is simply not enough visual real estate on the screen. About 40% of all computer monitors still use 1024x768 resolution so we cannot use a template that is larger than that without causing scroll bars to appear which makes the experience unacceptable for most users. The second reason is related to the screen size limitations, the minimum size people can view legibly for slides is 640x480 (our current slide area). When we display the slides smaller than that, text on the slides becomes too small to be legible, if the slides have fonts below 30pt to begin with. We simply cannot get the slide area to display in an acceptable way without exceeding the 1024 wide limitations stated above.

We will be introducing some new features into the chalkboard tool later this year (fall 2011) that may allow the slide and video windows to resize or slide in/out. There are also a number of alternative approaches such as to include your slides into the large video or use a SCORM element to achieve the affect you are looking for.

Tony McCune
about 1 year ago

Abigail Thornhill
about 1 month ago

We will be introducing some new features into the chalkboard tool later this year (fall 2011) that may allow the slide and video windows to resize or slide in/out.

Any updates regarding this layout? Thanks!

Troy Tolle
about 1 month ago

Abigail, we had to delay the release of the new templates of the chalkboard in exchange for some features that exist in it today like checkpoints with allow you to automatically pause the presentation and ask questions of the students. We are also releasing a new feature in the chalkboards that I can't quite leak yet, but it is coming soon. Don't worry though, we are working on new templates still, we just didn't get to release them when we thought we would. I can tell you they are coming though.

Abigail Thornhill
about 1 month ago

Thanks, Troy. Any chance you can tell me which month they may be coming? :o) I am just starting to setup my chalkboard(s) so I would like to know if I should be preparing slides to go along with my video. If a month can't be released, is it possible to change layouts at anytime? Thanks!

Troy Tolle
about 1 month ago

Abigail, you can always use the large video layout now and you wouldn't have to prepare any slides, we could just stream the video for you. You can change the layouts for each chalkboard that you create. That being said, you will always be able to change the layout of a chalkboard at anytime and we will hide and show the appropriate elements. This will not be changing. I am sorry that I can't release a specific time right now, but it will be several months before they arrive.