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Tools for online whiteboards 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.

The abbreviation OCWP

OCWP means Online Collaborative Whiteboard Platforms.

Zoom Whiteboard – simple and fast

In Zoom, you can choose to share a whiteboard under the screen sharing options. This opens an empty, white surface where you can write, draw and set out predefined icons (called to "stamp"). You can create multiple whiteboards and switch between them, but you can only view one at a time. Zoom uses the same annotation tools as in a normal screen sharing, and just like in a screen sharing, all participants in the meeting can use the tools.

The boards are saved during the meeting, even if you stop screen sharing, but they are deleted when the meeting room is closed. If you want to save the contents, you can export them as images or PDF.

For more information about Zoom Whiteboard:

Pros

  • Same annotations as for screen sharing.
  • Easy to moderate by turning off or on annotation for participants.
  • Built into the most common video meeting tool at KTH.
  • Can easily be recorded.

Cons

  • Temporary, must be exported to save the content after meeting.
  • Simple, limited tools.
  • Has no templates nor post-it notes.

Microsoft Whiteboard – Basic functions

Microsoft 365 includes a basic whiteboard that can be run as an app on your computer or online in your browser. You can draw and write directly on the board, but you can also insert objects such as post-it notes, images, videos and documents. You can then move these objects around on the board as needed, or lock them at a position.

The boards are saved online in the cloud, so you can return to them at any time. You can also export all the content of a board to an image or as HTML (in a compressed folder).

For more information, read Getting started with Microsoft Whiteboard (support.microsoft.com) .

Pros

  • Easy to get started.
  • Useful and simple functions:
    • Built-in timer.
    • Post-it notes, both individual and in a grid.
    • Comments on objects, for example a post-it note.
    • Templates for common scenarios.
    • Upload images, videos and documents.
  • Comes with Microsoft 365, so all employees and students have access.

Cons

  • No organizing tools.
  • Minimal grouping tools and no way to group content yourself. For example, if you want to move a flowchart, you must move all arrows and text boxes as separate objects.
  • You quickly reach the ceiling of what you can do.

Lucidspark – extended functionality and flexibility

Lucidspark has both the basic functions of Microsoft Whiteboard and advanced functions that broaden the field of use. For example, there is a function for voting and a built-in presentation tool that uses content in the board. It also has many functions that simplify use, such as grouping and sorting.

The boards are saved online in the cloud, just like for Microsoft Whiteboard. When you export the boards, you choose what you want to export, you don't have to export the whole board. You can export the content as a CSV file and as different image formats (with or without transparent background).

Note! You need to pay a license fee for everyone who needs to have full access. Students can participate to some extent in the board without an account, but need an account and license to use all functions. Prices and how to order (in Swedish, explained under the heading “Modell 4”) .

Read more about Lucidspark on the page Welcome to Lucidspark (help.lucid.co) .

Pros

  • All features found in Microsoft Whiteboard.
  • Advanced functions, for example:
    • Video recording, to add a video message to the board.
    • Presentation slides from content in the board.
    • Voting on chosen content.
    • Tags.
    • Tools to adjust the placement of content related to each other.
  • Organizational tools exist to gather and sort content by, for example, keywords or number of votes.
  • Easy to group and move objects as you like.
  • Export only the parts of the board you need.

Cons

  • There is an additional license fee.
    • Separate license fees for Lucidspark and Lucidchart.
  • An increased amount of advanced functions can lead to:
    • you or the students feeling overwhelmed
    • increased time to learn how to use the whiteboard
    • a greater risk of mistakes.

Lucidchart – advanced charts, formulas and data analysis

Lucidchart is a whiteboard focused on visualizing technical and precise diagrams and data analysis. You can work in different layers, create conditional formatting, analyze data, insert mathematical and chemical formulas and much more. These advanced functions give you great freedom to adapt and use the whiteboard according to your needs and helps you to visualize complex diagrams.

This tool is powerful, but is mainly recommended for those who need its specific features. The sheer number of features can feel overwhelming and require more time and energy to learn compared to the more intuitive whiteboards. Lucidchart is saved online in the cloud and you can export in the same way as for Lucidspark.

Note! You need to pay a license fee for everyone who will use Lucidchart. Students must have an account to access the board. Prices and how to order (in Swedish, explained under the heading “Modell 4”) .

Learn the basics on the page Welcome to Lucidchart (help.lucid.co)  and read specific guides about how to work with Lucidchart (help.lucid.co) .

Pros

  • Basic whiteboard functions and presentation function.
  • Powerful advanced features:
    • Create and work in different layers.
    • Import data from Excel, CSV or Google docs.
    • Formulas and conditional formatting to analyze and edit data.
    • Create mathematical and chemical formulas with LaTeX or MathQuill.
    • Create and save your own shapes in a personal shape library.
  • More than 700 templates.

Cons

  • High learning threshold. It is not as intuitive as other whiteboards.
  • Missing some of Lucidspark's functions, for example you can't draw freehand or vote.
  • There is an additional license fee.
    • Separate license fees for Lucidspark and Lucidchart.

Complementary tools

KTH provides a number of tools that complement the whiteboard tools, here you will find a brief explanation of them.

Contact it-support@kth.se  for more information about the various tools that KTH provides via licenses and agreements.