More and more workplaces are utilizing the benefits of virtual collaboration. Luckily, there are an abundance of fantastic apps and software to choose from. Digital whiteboard apps are a particularly effective way to bring teams together for productive work.
However, which one should you choose with so many of them out there? In this article, we’ll explore four virtual whiteboard apps, their features, and how best to use them to streamline project and work participation.
1. Pallet
First on the list is Padlet, which probably has the most features out of all the other apps mentioned here. When you create a “padlet” (a board), you can choose from seven distinct layouts, including Oall, flow, grid, shelf, map, web, and Chronology.
Once you have selected your favorite template, you can start adding messages by clicking on the pink More sign in at the bottom right corner of your screen. Padlet is a great option for online collaboration and planning because it lets you upload almost any file type, such as Microsoft Office, Google files, images, videos (and YouTube video integration) , site links, GIFs and more.
Sharing your padlet is easy, by clicking To share at the top right of your screen. It offers many ways to do this, from sharing a link to posting to Google Classroom. Your colleagues will be able to add and modify posts in real time, and all this anonymously.
Padlet is a good choice if you want quieter team members to contribute ideas without fear of judgment. He’s also great at managing multiple projects and keeping everyone up to date.
To download: Padlet for iOS | Android | Amazon | Windows (free subscription and Pro for $8 per month)
2. Wakelet
Wakelet is a content curation platform that doubles as a virtual board. It was specifically designed for creating and sharing work and ideas, while keeping it as simple as possible.
Wakelet organizes its content into The spaces that contain your Collections. the collections are forums where you post your work, and you choose from five Provisionsincluding Media, Compact, Grid, Mood Board, and Column.
The appeal of this app is that it is simple to use, meaning the posts you can post are limited to Connections, Text, Pictures, Bookmarks, PDF, Tweets from Twitter, Youtube videos and files Google Drive and OneDrive. However, it’s incredibly easy for your team to get on board and start contributing. To add more to your Spaces or Collections, just click on the blue To share button at the top right of your screen.
Wakelet is free and you can sign up for the personal account or the educators account, which include all the features above. Since you can access it through all web browsers as well as Android and iOS devices, you should have no problem accessing it from anywhere.
To download: Wakelet for Android | iOS (Free)
Dotstorming is a free collaboration board platform, where you and your colleagues can work on projects and vote on ideas. You can create a Walla Vote placeand one Bonding, and while this app is limited to these three, they are purpose-based, rather than just visually different.
With the Wall, dotstorming allows you to add sticky note style messages, which you can change the color, add text and images. You can arrange each of these “notes” however you like and drag them onto the board to organize them.
the Vote place allows you to Add a map, on which your colleagues can vote and add comments. the Cards have some additional features, including the ability to download GIFs, to add Emojis, and insert Connections.
When the voting is over, you can order the cards by selecting Classification by votes, Classification by commentsand Ranking by addition. There’s even a chat box on the right side of the screen for productive discussion.
the Bonding is unique, in that it is a virtual whiteboard on which you can draw, add text, upload images and has the chat function. It’s a great option for designing visual workflows and brainstorming ideas, and isn’t limited by layout restrictions.
To start adding contributors to your boards, simply click on the To share in the toolbar at the top right of your screen and submit the link.
4. Google Jamboard
If you prefer a freehand approach to collaborating, Google Jamboard is a digital interactive whiteboard that will give you what you need. It was developed to work with Google Workspace. It’s a very accessible choice if you already work with Google products.
If you already have a Google account, you can get started right away without signing up for anything. If you want something really streamlined, this digital whiteboard is your best bet, as you can access it from the cloud on any browser and download any file from Google Workspace, including spreadsheets, images, documents, maps and more.
When you create a new Jamboard, a blank whiteboard appears. Here you can use the Design tool that provides Pen, Marker pen, Highlighter, Brush, and six color options. You can also To erase, To select, Add a sticky note, Add a pictureto add Shapesa Text zoneand use the Laser tool.
Google Jamboard also offers several backgrounds to choose from, or you can upload your own. Like all Google files, the To share allows you to make it available to your team, and you can Present at a meeting throughGoogle Hangouts.
To download: Google Jamboard extension for Chrome | Android | iOS (Free)
Digital collaboration boards at your fingertips
When it comes to teamwork, emailing back and forth is now a thing of the past. Instead, using digital collaboration boards allows for a high level of effective project planning and joint working, and keeping everyone in the loop effortlessly.
Each of the apps we’ve explored here offers different tools and functions, so you can decide which ones suit your needs.
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