I first became aware of the “magic” of the whiteboard last summer. I was taking a marketing class at Google on how to best reach customers via video on YouTube. Most of class time was spent watching presentations (much like you are doing now!) of the experts, followed by group discussions of the topics, with someone writing key takeaways on the dry-erase board. The Whiteboard was an online classroom tool that enabled group communication and collaboration using video conferencing software.
Drawp for School
Collaboration tool makes digital sharing easy
Bottom line: This handy tool encourages collaboration and creative expression, and it makes sharing assignments and giving feedback a snap for teachers.Grades: Pre-K–12 Price: Free to try Get it now See full review
Whiteboard.chat
Complex interactive whiteboard offers a full instructional experience
Bottom line: Impressive, unparalleled versatility makes this more of an instructional platform than a whiteboard, but it’ll require a lot of up-front work to get comfortable.Grades: K–12 Price: Free, Paid Visit website See full review
Educreations
Enliven lessons and presentations with easy-to-use whiteboard tool
Bottom line: An easy, functional way to create presentations on the fly.Grades: 3–12 Price: Free Get it now See full review
Explain Everything Whiteboard
Powerhouse tool for creating stellar multimedia presentations
Bottom line: Teachers and students can make dynamic presentations that involve different types of media in this innovative, fun app.Grades: 3–12 Price: Free to try, Paid Get it now See full review
Jamboard
Versatile whiteboard with fun features integrates with Google Suite
Bottom line: Great collaborative tool for groups, whether remote or in person.Grades: 4–12 Price: FreeGet it now See full review
Stormboard
Collaborate, brainstorm in real time with easy-to-use online whiteboard
Bottom line: A versatile, full-featured online brainstorming collaboration tool that can facilitate small-group projects.Grades: 5–12 Price: Free, Free to try, Paid Visit website See full review
Doceri Interactive Whiteboard
Interactive whiteboard app for designing and recording presentations
Bottom line: Teachers and students can spice up presentations and demonstrate processes and problem-solving skills with this well-designed tool.Grades: 6–12 Price: Free, Paid Get it now See full review
Explee
Build slick, engaging whiteboard animations with Web-based tool
Bottom line: A stellar — if somewhat pricey — creation tool for the classroom.Grades: 6–12 Price: Free, Paid Visit website See full review
Jamboard (jamboard.google.com)
This free Google tool isn’t just about expensive interactive displays. You can use the app for free on any device. It creates whiteboards that are a lot like slides. Add sticky notes, drawings, images, text and more. Move them around on the screen easily. Then, share your “jams” with others and let them collaborate. If you don’t want to write with a pen, this is a great non-touchscreen option.
Learn more: How to use Jamboard in the classroom: 20+ tips and ideas or check out our online course below!
The Do More with Google Jamboard
Online Course!
This course will introduce you to Jamboard features you might not know. It will give you dozens of ideas for using it in the classroom.
Plus, it provides you with:
– A collection of more than 100 templates.
– 40 activity ideas you can use immediately
– Tutorial slides to use as a quick visual review.
– Interactive infographics you can give your students
– Video playlists, posts, and extra resources.Enroll TODAY for just $29!
Whiteboard app in Windows
If you have a Windows laptop (or Surface tablet), this has been waiting for you all along! Just type the word “whiteboard” in to the search next to the Windows button. It offers a variety of pens, a ruler, and a lasso to move items around. You can even add text, notes, lists, templates, images, and more.
Learn more: How to Use Whiteboard.fi: Free Digital Whiteboard
Aww app (awwapp.com)
This online whiteboard app offers lots of the features you’d expect: a vareity of pens, shapes, notes and text. You can also upload PowerPoint slides and images. But here’s what makes Aww App stand out: others can join your board and add to it in real time. FYI: Your boards disappear after a period of inactivity, so if you want to keep what you created, you might export it when you’re done.
Learn more: 10 ways to collaborate digitally + visually in class
Whiteboard.fi
Whiteboard.fi is super simple. You create a class and let your students join, using a link, room code or QR code. Each student gets an individual digital whiteboard. They can draw, write text, annotate, add math equations, and more! As the teacher you get to see all of your students’ work in realtime. Students can only see their own work and the teacher’s whiteboard. No registration or log in needed!
Learn more: How to Use Whiteboard.fi: Free Digital Whiteboard
Whiteboard.chat
This free online whiteboard app offers lots of the features in addition to drawing such as the ability to add text, math equations, images, backgrounds, online media, dice, compass, pointer, animation and more! You can connect up to 100 people to one board or observe and coach multiple individual users.
Learn more: Whiteboard.chat help and how-tos
Canva (Canva.com)
We often think of Canva for creating beautiful graphic designs. But did you know that they have an online whiteboard option build in with tons of templates (see templates section below) or a blank whiteboard option. The online whiteboard offers the same design tools you are used to in Canva along with some cool animation tools. You can share your whiteboard as a view only or editable link for collaboration. You can also present and record directly in Canva. Share publish your online whiteboard to Google Drive, MS One Drive PowerPoint, embed it in a site and more.
Learn more:Getting started with Canva
Deskle (Deskle.com)
This online whiteboard is a paid service but you can try it for free for 14 days. The tool itself offers many of the same features as the Whiteboard.chat and Whiteboard.fi, however there are many included templates and additional interactive features and integrations. So if your school or district is looking to purchase something that will fit well with your LMS then Deskle is worth looking into.
Learn more: Deskle – the online whiteboarding multitool for remote collaboration
Miro is another online whiteboard service with many of the same features that Deskle offers but it has a free option that lets you create 3 boards with unlimited team members. Miro offers realtime collaboration and an infinite zoomable canvas that allows for lots of collaboration in different areas of the same board. Miro also integrates with G Suite, MS Teams, Dropbox, Slack and more.
Learn more: Getting started with Miro webinar
OneNote (onenote.com)
If you have a touchscreen Windows device, this is a fantastic option. OneNote is my favorite notetaking app. Open a fresh note in OneNote to use as your online whiteboard. It’s an infinite canvas, so it gets as big as you want. It integrates nicely with other Microsoft 365 products. Plus, OneNote has GREAT math options: symbols, an equation editor, and other math tools.
Learn more: Using OneNote to show what they know
Slides/PowerPoint
If you don’t have a touchscreen device, you may love this one best. Bring up an online slide (in Google Slides or in PowerPoint). Add text, images, shapes, lines, videos, etc. Use that as your whiteboard and record your screen while it’s up. Note: If you have the PowerPoint desktop app, you can draw and then turn your writing into editable text, moveable shapes and math equations.
Learn more: Student collaboration in shared Google Slides
Learn more: 20 interactive PowerPoint activities to add awesome to classes
Tech Like a PIRATE is NOW available
Get the tools, the practical ideas, and the inspiration to transform the way you use technology in the classroom!
- Lesson ideas and downloadable templates
- A companion webpage full of FREE resources (click here to access NOW)
- Brand new PIRATE engagement hooks
- Encouragement and motivation to start
Conclusion
When I first got into the online education business, I had no idea what was out there. You can imagine how overwhelming it is to learn new material AND find the perfect classroom tools to go along with it! I started this blog out of frustration trying to figure out what are the best online classroom tools for the needs of employers and employees.