Utilise the online whiteboards to realise your educational idea
Online whiteboards are digital workspaces that can be used like a physical whiteboard but offer many more features. They offer interactive presentation, collaborative work opportunities and can be saved for later. Their applications can help you develop your pedagogical ideas and contribute to your lesson planning. These workspaces are also called Online Collaborative Whiteboard Platforms (OCWP).
What are online whiteboards?
An online whiteboard is a collaborative writing and workspace available online in a virtual space. Both teachers and students can use them to, for example, brainstorm, organize ideas, co-create and work on projects, both synchronously or asynchronously. Today's online whiteboards are mainly cloud-based and include several interactive features, such as writing, drawing and commenting, as well as attaching images, web links and videos.
What is an OCWP?
The tools that provide these virtual spaces with online whiteboards are called OCWPs (Online Collaborative Whiteboard Platforms). KTH provides several OCWPs through licenses and agreements because different tools are well suited to different scenarios.
An OCWP can be used remotely, on-site in a classroom, or in a hybrid situation and can often replace or supplement a physical whiteboard. What fits best depends on the situation and which tool you use.
For a review of desirable features of an OCWP, read the University of Edinburgh's brief review of a selection of OCWPs: Systematic Review of OCWPs in Higher Education (PDF 238kb) .
Advantages and challenges
An OCWP can promote active and collaborative learning in your students in a way that can be difficult with a physical whiteboard. An advantage of these tools is that they support interactivity while the information on them is permanent. Through its flexible way of working, they offer you as a teacher opportunities to develop your pedagogical thoughts and your teaching. However, an OCWP can present some challenges that you need to be aware of. You also need to take digital accessibility into account.
Advantages and challenges with online whiteboards (OWCP)
Areas of use
The flexibility of OCWPs allows you to use them in many learning activities beyond conventional whiteboard use. An OWCP can support brainstorming, co-creation, interactive presentations and can also be used with the Flipped Classroom model. Here we describe these scenarios and their possible challenges in realizing your educational idea.
Areas of use of Online Whiteboards (OCWP)
Tools at KTH
KTH provides several OCWPs through licenses: Lucidspark, Lucidchart, Microsoft Whiteboard and Zoom Whiteboard. These tools have different prerequisites for interactivity and moderation, so they are suited for different situations. This page reviews their pros and cons and recommends complementary tools.
Tools for online whiteboards at KTH