I agree we should be cautious about mini whiteboards. I actually have different limitations I would list first: answering on mini whiteboards is slow, and mini whiteboards can tax attention.

Slow: when we use mini whiteboards we do one question at a time, students hold them up for me to see, then on to the next question. That takes more time than solving a bunch of problems on paper sequentially.

Attention: I often realize after a mini whiteboard question that there’s some confusion I need to address. It’s tempting to address it while students are holding whiteboards and markers and erasers. In general I find that holding all that stuff makes it harder to listen.

Mini whiteboard time is for some quick retrieval practice, checking for understanding, or consolidation. Short chunks, I get lots of information, then we put them away for instruction/new content/extended practice.

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