Digital Whiteboards

Getting Started With Digital Whiteboards

Jamboard

Google Canvas/Jamboard:

Canvas is a basic artistic whitboarding tool, with the ability to:

  • Draw in multiple colors
  • Draw using different tools, including pencil, pen, marker, and chalk
  • Insert and annotate graphics

Completed whiteboards can be saved as an image and shared

Jamboard is a more powerful whiteboard tool, with the ability to:

  • Draw in multiple colors
  • Draw using different tools, including pen, marker, highlighter, and paint brush
  • Insert typed text through sticky notes
  • Insert and annotate graphics
  • Use laser pointer to highlight items on whiteboard
  • Change background color add shift to lined paper or graph paper
  • Add multiple pages (like a PowerPoint presentation)
  • Allow students to collaborate with you and/or each other on the Jamboard

This video includes instructions for using both Canvas and Jamboard during Google Meet sessions.

Whiteboard

Microsoft Whiteboard:

This whiteboard tool has two versions.

The basic version is built into Microsoft Teams and includes:

  • Draw in multiple colors

The more advanced version has to be launched separately and includes:

  • Draw in multiple colors
  • Draw using different tools, including penand highlighter
  • Built in virtual ruler
  • Insert typed text through text boxes and sticky notes
  • Insert and annotate graphics
  • Insert PowerPoint slides or entire presentation
  • Change background color and shift to lined paper or graph paper
  • Allow students to collaborate with you and/or each other on the whiteboard

Explain EDU

Explain EDU:

A powerful whiteboard tool for the iPad that includes the ability to:

  • Draw in multiple colors
  • Insert and annotate graphics
  • Insert typed text
  • Load and then annotate .PDFs
  • Insert and then annotate interactive Websites
  • Add math equations
  • Use laser pointer to highlight items on whiteboard
  • Change background color and shift to lined paper or graph paper
  • Add multiple pages (like a PowerPoint presentation)

As Explain EDU is used through the iPad, teachers may also use their Logitech stylus to draw and write with more control than using a mouse or trackpad on a computer.

Additionally, Whiteboard presentations can be recorded, with audio, through Explain EDU, and then saved as videos and then shared with students.

This video demonstrates demonstrates Explain EDU's basic whiteboard features as well as how to save completed boards as screencasts.