Whiteboard, an interactive virtual whiteboard
Digital whiteboards
Description: Whiteboard is an online tool that provides users with a virtual whiteboard where they can draw, write, and interact with others simultaneously. Students can join a whiteboard through a code, and teachers can see all of the students' whiteboards in real time and follow their progress, while students only see the teacher's whiteboard. Whiteboard offers a limited yet comprehensive free version and does not require users to sign up for an account. Whiteboard was created by Sebastian Laxell and Jaakko Virtanen, and is run by Digital Teaching Tools Finland Ltd., a Kahoot! company.
Evaluation: Whiteboard is a useful tool with a straightforward interface that can facilitate interactive lessons, brainstorming sessions, or collaborative work. It is especially suitable for blended or online learning environments. One drawback is that Whiteboard’s free version does not permit downloading whiteboards and limits student participation to 20 users.
Cost: Free limited version without registration + paid plans available.
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: High.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: English.
Respect for privacy What data does the tool collect and why? What security measures are there? GDPR compliant? : High. Whiteboard collects various personal information such as user names, email addresses, teaching subjects, IP addresses, and images of what is drawn on the whiteboards for operational purposes. It employs the services of third-party service providers like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Upcloud to assist in providing access to the site. It also uses functional cookies necessary for the website to function. Importantly, student data that is created at the service without a student account is removed when the teacher deletes the whiteboard session or removes the student from the session. For free users, the session length is limited to 2 hours, after which data is automatically deleted. Whiteboard mentions reasonable security measures and stores data within the United States or the European Union, depending on the user's choice. It acknowledges users’ right to access, modify, or delete personal data. Whiteboard states compliance with the GDPR. See more here.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: No, free version users cannot download whiteboards.