Learn on the whiteboard

Some things are easier to see than to read. So when you ask TutorCat to explain something, it can answer on a whiteboard. A page of handwriting builds up in front of you, a piece at a time, with a little pen that writes it. TutorCat reads each piece out loud, and the words show along the bottom, like captions on a video.

#When you get a board

You get a board when you ask things like:

• "How does the heart work?"
• "Why do we have day and night?"
• "Can you explain fractions?"
• a maths problem you want to work through
• a photo of your homework

A quick "thanks" or "ok" gets a normal chat reply, not a board. And if you are upset or worried, TutorCat answers with care and help, never with a board. See If you're worried or upset.

#Watch and listen

A board has a bar of buttons along the top. Here is what they do.

1. Play or Pause. Stop the pen whenever you like, and start it again.
2. Start again. Watch the whole board once more from the top.
3. Reading speed. Tap to change how fast TutorCat reads: 0.75× (slower), 1× or 1.25× (faster). Tap again to go round.
4. Voice. Switch the reading voice on or off.
5. Captions. Show or hide the words along the bottom.
6. Save as image. Keep the board as a picture, so you can look at it again when you revise.
7. Open full screen. Make the board big.

Your device's own voice does the reading. If the voice is off, you see a green Play aloud button (or Tap to hear). Tap it to switch the voice on. Sound only starts when you tap, so a board never makes a noise by surprise. (Younger students are different: see the last part of this page.)

#Tap a part to hear it again

Every part of the board is its own little piece. Tap it, or tap the small speaker button beside it (Hear this again), and TutorCat reads just that part. Use this when you missed something.

#Zoom, and save

In full screen you also get Zoom in and Zoom out. You can drag the page to move around it. Tap Close the board (the ×) to go back to your chat.

Save as image saves the finished board as a picture on your device. It is there once the board has finished drawing.

#On a phone

On a phone, a new board opens full screen by itself, like a little lesson. You see the board on the top, the words as captions along the bottom, and the box where you can type underneath.

You can type a question or an answer at any time. The box still says Type an answer or a question, and the camera button still works.

#Board or Chat

Sometimes you want to read the words instead. Every board has a small switch at the top right: Board and Chat.

• Chat shows the same lesson as plain text. It is the same lesson, not a new one.
• Board takes you back to the drawing.

This is handy if you want to read quickly, or copy a word.

#Show me on the board

Got a normal chat reply, but you would rather see it drawn? Tap Show me on the board under the reply. TutorCat answers again, as a board, in the same chat.

#Snap a photo, get a board

Take a photo of your homework, like you would for any question (see Ask a homework question). TutorCat can answer with a board.

The board begins with Here's what I see, and shows your photo next to what TutorCat read. Look at it carefully. If TutorCat read something wrong, say so in the box, for example "That should be 2x + 5, not 2x + 6", and ask again. Then the board teaches you how to solve it.

#For homework, the board shows the method

When you ask about a homework problem, the board shows you how to do it, as steps. It does not just hand over the answer. It works the same as the Steps card:

• Tap Got it ✓ when a step makes sense.
• Tap Explain more when it does not.
• You still earn the answer, and then unlock it with Unlock the answer.

Read all about it in Work through the steps and earn the answer.

Many boards end with a check question: "Where does blood go right after the lungs?" Tap one of the answers, or type your own. It is a way to see if it made sense. It is not a test, and there is no score.

#For younger students (grades 3-5)

Boards for you are made a bit different:

• The writing is bigger.
• Boards are shorter, so it is not too much at once.
• TutorCat reads a little slower.
• The voice starts by itself, so you do not have to tap anything. Tap the speaker button if you want it quiet.

Here is how to use it:

1. Ask your question, like "Why do we have day and night?"
2. Watch the board and listen.
3. Missed a bit? Tap the part to hear it again.
4. Want to see it again? Tap the round arrow (Start again).
5. Want just words? Tap Chat.
6. Answer the question at the end, or ask your own!

If you are stuck, type "I don't get it" in the box, or ask a grown-up to sit with you.