iPad Sidecar
Let the iPad do what your hand expects.
There is a reason people still reach for a marker when they need to explain something complicated. A pencil lets you think in real time. With Sidecar, the iPad can bring that natural gesture back to a Mac presentation.
Set the audience screen before you write
The important decision is not where your pencil lands; it is where the audience is looking. Choose the display that carries your Drawing, Whiteboard or BRB overlay, then confirm that it is the projector or shared screen—not the display that only you can see.
A setup that avoids surprises
- Connect the iPad with Sidecar and open your presentation material.
- Open TeacherPalette and select the audience display.
- Write a short test line with Apple Pencil while watching the projected or shared output once.
- Start Whiteboard on a clean page if the explanation will grow beyond a quick annotation.
Keep the writing legible, not precious
Use a heavier line than you would in a notebook, and write a little more slowly than feels necessary. The audience sees the result at a distance and through a projector; clarity wins over handwriting personality.
The small benefit people notice
Writing live makes it clear what is important because the idea arrives in the same order as your explanation. It is especially good for working through a problem, sketching a relationship or responding to a real question from the room.
Whiteboard mode is a natural home for a Sidecar and Apple Pencil workflow.