1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for initiating a teaching animation for demonstrating a manual gesture, the method comprising: monitoring a context of a computing environment of the computing device; based on the context, determining which teaching animations to promote to an active state, wherein the teaching animations are, at least temporarily stored in a data store consistent with the active state. receiving a user-initiated input in association with a writing-pad tool surfaced on a touchscreen interface of a computing device; based on the user-initiated input, launching one or more of the teaching animations in the active state; and rendering at the touchscreen interface an indication of launching the one or more teaching animations.