Online Whiteboard Guide
What are some tips for using an online whiteboard effectively?
Key Takeaways
- Choose the right online whiteboard platform based on features, functionalities, and pricing.
- Prepare your online whiteboard before the session to save time and avoid confusion.
- Set clear goals and expectations for the session to ensure smooth collaboration.
- Utilize interactive and engaging features to facilitate collaboration and maintain motivation.
- Review and follow up on your online whiteboard after the session to summarize outcomes and establish next steps.
Introduction
Online whiteboards enable real-time collaboration with others where you can write, draw, and communicate on a virtual surface. They can be employed for various objectives, including ideation, organizing, demonstrating, instructing and comprehension. You can optimally take advantage of your online whiteboard usage by adhering to certain guidelines and strategies. Here are some of them:
Choose the right online whiteboard platform for your needs
There are many online whiteboard platforms available, each with different features, functionalities, and pricing. Take the number of attendees, interactive options, ability to sync with other resources, security and confidentiality controls, as well as user friendliness into account when making your choice. For a detailed guide on how to choose the right platform, check out how to choose an online whiteboard: everything you need to know.
Prepare your online whiteboard before the session
To save time and avoid confusion during the session, you should prepare your online whiteboard beforehand. You can create a template or structure for your whiteboard, such as adding titles, headings, sections, and labels. It is possible to incorporate supplementary material or resources into your collaboration that could be useful, such as images, videos, links, documents, or post-its.
Set clear goals and expectations for the session
Before you start using your online whiteboard with others, you should communicate the goals and expectations of the session clearly. Create a set of guidelines to govern the session – such as how to discuss through the chat feature, present criticisms, iron out disagreements and conclude – prior to beginning.
Use interactive and engaging features to facilitate collaboration
Using an online whiteboard facilitates direct and synchronous engagement with the people you’re collaborating with. You should take advantage of the interactive and engaging features that your online whiteboard platform offers, such as drawing tools, shapes, icons, stickers, emojis, polls, timers, voting systems, and comments. Using these features can assist you in accurately and artistically conveying your thoughts, acquiring opinions and comments from others, building agreement within the group that something should be done in the same way, and being sure everyone is continually inspired.
Review and follow up on your online whiteboard after the session
After you finish using your online whiteboard with others, you should review and follow up on your online whiteboard. You should summarize the main points and outcomes of the session, highlight the action items and next steps for each participant or group, and thank everyone for their contribution and participation. You should also export or save your online whiteboard as a file or a link that you can share with others for future reference or revision.
Conclusion
Online whiteboards provide an excellent means for real-time collaboration and communication, offering several advantages over traditional methods. Choose the correct platform, create your whiteboard ahead of time, establish objectives and expectations, utilize interactive features, and evaluate and follow up after the session to maximize your online whiteboard. Following these principles and tactics will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of your online whiteboard, enabling you to work more successfully and efficiently with others regardless of location.