Create a Whiteboard
This activity allows you to visually collaborate and with a plenty of freedom in a white board format, whether it is to create a visual management space or to explain a concept through a diagram.
Add a Whiteboard activity
From your session:
1. Click on “Add a slide” at the top left of your screen
2. Select the Whiteboard activity
3. Write down the title of your activity
4. Click on Save
The Whiteboard activity will be added to the content of your session.
Unlike other activities where the facilitator scrolls through the slides, this activity does not "start" and your participants cannot access it from the Activities tab, available from the banner on the right of the session page.
Add content to your Whiteboard activity
Once you are on the activity slide of your Whiteboard, all you have to do is create and add all the elements you want. Anyone connected to your session, whatever their role (owner, facilitator, participant), can add and modify items.
The pointer
The pointer allows you to select items already in your table. Once an item has been selected, you can access several actions/functions at the top of the item. The actions/functions available will depend on the item selected. Selecting an item also lets you adjust its size and inclination (rotation).
Free design
With this feature, you can freely draw shapes and lines using your mouse movements. Click and drag your pointer to draw the shape of your choice. Release to finish your drawing.
Once your drawing is complete, click on the pointer button in the toolbox of your Whiteboard activity and then double-click on your drawing element. You will then be able to use the red dots to extend the different segments of your design to form a new one.
Don't forget that as the session owner or facilitator, you can also lock your design element to prevent other participants from modifying your work!
You can choose the colour of the element from the palette, choose from three line sizes, lock the element (owner or animator), and use the three small dots to duplicate, move to the background or foreground, and delete the element.
The texte
This feature lets you add text of any length at the point where you click with your mouse.
- You can choose the colour of the text, as well as its alignment.
Once you've written your text, simply select the text element to position it wherever you want on the Whiteboard.
To add previously written text to a Note, create a Note (see the “Adding a Note” section). Then select your text, copy it by right-clicking on the “copy” button, and finally paste (again by right-clicking on the “paste” button) this text into the previously created note.
By selecting your Text element, you can edit it. You can choose the colour of the element from the palette provided, choose the alignment of the text, lock the element (owner or animator), and via the three little dots: duplicate, move to background or foreground, and delete the element.
The formes
- Click on the Shape function in your toolbox, then select the shape of your choice from those on offer. Once you have chosen the shape you want, draw it with your mouse.
- Once you release the mouse, the shape is created. You can then change the size, colour, line width and lock your element. By selecting your shape element again, you can move it to the desired location on your Whiteboard.
- By selecting the colour of your element, you can also manage the opacity of this colour, so that you can see what is in the background of this shape.
List of available shapes :
- Rectangle
- Ellipse
- Triangle
- Parallelogram
- Line
- Arrow: You can select the shape and direction of the tip of your arrow by clicking on the element and selecting the “Arrow” button.
It is also possible to select a shape using the available shortcuts. To do this, please see the ‘List of keyboard shortcuts’ section.
From this function, you can also add dynamic links between your “shape”, “image” or “note” elements.
This is a very useful feature for creating dynamic diagrams
To do this:
- Click on Shape in your toolbox.
- Choose the arrow element
- Hover your cursor over an element: shape, image or Note on your Whiteboard (as your cursor passes over one of these elements, a dark shadow appears around the element).
- Click from this shadow to the shadow of the element you want to attach.
- By moving one of the elements → the arrow resizes and adapts to your cursor movements.
- By selecting your Shape element, you will have access to modify it; You can choose the colour of the element from the palette offered, choose from the stroke sizes offered, lock the element (owner or animator), and via the three little dots: duplicate, put in the background or foreground, and delete the element.
The images
This function allows you to add images from your computer, a web link or from the Unsplash bank of integrated, royalty-free images.
- Click on the Image button in the toolbox to the left of your Whiteboard activity slide. Then choose the image you want to import.
Depending on the size of the image you choose, it may be displayed ‘too large’ on your Whiteboard activity. In this case, zoom out your activity at the bottom right of the slide, and then select your image to manage its size.
Once you have chosen your image, click on "Save"
By selecting your Image element, you will be able to modify it. You can lock the item (owner or animator) and, using the three little dots, duplicate it, move it to the background or foreground, and delete it.
The Sticky notes
The Add Notes function lets you add text in the form of Sticky Notes in the size of your choice, where you click with your mouse.
- Choose the colour of your Note and the alignment of the text. The text will automatically adapt to the size of the note.
- Once you've written your text, simply select the Note element to reposition it wherever you want on the Whiteboard.
You can transform a Note into an action or decision by clicking on the three small dots at the top of the Note once the item has been selected!
By selecting your Note item, you will be able to modify it. You can choose the colour of the item from the palette, choose the alignment of the text, lock the item (owner or animator), and via the three little dots: duplicate, plan an action or take a decision from the note, put in the background or foreground, and delete the item.
Only the session owner and the presenter can lock an item on the Whiteboard.Manage your Whiteboard
You'll find the functions for managing your Whiteboard view at the bottom right of the activity slide.
1- List of keyboard shortcuts
To access the list of keyboard shortcuts, click on the keyboard icon at the bottom right of your Whiteboard activity. You will then have access to all the shortcuts.
Click once on your Whiteboard to select it before using one of the shortcuts.
Then simply follow the instructions next to the action you want.
You have access to several sections:
- Shape: to select one of the elements to be added to your Whiteboard
- Display: to manage the display of your Whiteboard
- Editor: to manage the content (the elements) of your Whiteboard
In the example below, we'll see how to add the Grid format to our Whiteboard activity:
2 - The “hand” to move around the Whiteboard activity
3 - The magnifying glass (to return to 100% zoom)
4 - The zoom
Import a Whiteboard from another session
It is possible to import your entire Whiteboard with its content into another session!
To do so:
- Once in the session in which you want to import your activity
- Click on “Add a slide” at the top left of the interface
- Click on “Import from session” on the panel that opens
- Select the session, then the Whiteboard activity
- Click on “Import”.
You will then have an exact copy of your Whiteboard with all its content on your new session. For more information, please consult our related article HERE.
Activity's options
- Edit
- Duplicate
- Screenshot
- Delete the slide
All deletions are final!
Message of the Whiteboard
If your Whiteboard exceeds a certain size, due to elements added by your participants or yourself, a banner with a message will appear to warn you that your activity may be slow.
It is therefore recommended to reduce the size of images and elements or to remove them.
If you need more information about optimizing the use of your Whiteboard find the article Best practices in Whiteboard activity & technical recommendations
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