Pencil Spacesâ laser pointer lets you draw another userâs attention to specific parts of the whiteboard, without adding permanent marks to the Space.
This can be useful when explaining a diagram, highlighting a particular part of a problem, or guiding students through a lesson.
Using the laser pointer
The laser pointer tool can be accessed from the bottom toolbar inside every Space. To find it, use the following steps:
Locate Pen tools from the left-hand side of the toolbar Space, and click it to open the tool menu.
Select Laser Pointer.
Move your mouse or track-pad across the whiteboard to point to the area you want to highlight. The laser pointer will leave a temporary red trail as you move.
When youâre done using the laser pointer, select another tool from the toolbar, and continue your lesson as normal.
Once youâre finished annotating the area you want to highlight, let go of your mouse. The trail will disappear after a few moments, leaving your board unmarked.
Pro tip: For quicker access, you can also activate the laser pointer using the keyboard shortcut Shift + L.
When should I use the laser pointer?
The laser pointer is especially useful in situations where you want to quickly direct someone elseâs attention to a specific spot on the board, but without altering or permanently marking its contents.
For instance, you can use it to:
Highlight a specific part of a diagram, screen share, or image.
Point to a step in a worked example.
Draw attention to a particular word, number, or equation.
Guide studentsâ attention while explaining something on the board.
If youâd like to learn more about other ways to highlight and annotate board content, see our guide: How to use the pen, highlighter, and eraser, or How to annotate on screen share.