What: Depending on the style of the classroom (seminar, or lecture) you can think of an intentional way to use the blackboard.

 

How: You can use the board to write the agenda, on tick things off as the class progresses. You might think of using the board to organize main ideas, or important questions you want to return to. You can even ask students to go up and write their ideas on the board. 

 

Why: In seminar style classes, the blackboard can be a useful tool to keep track of main ideas that come up during discussion. However, it can also sometimes break the flow of the discussion because the students will be directing their comments to you, the professor, at the board rather than at the whole class.