Frontline Tech

Category: Digital WhiteBoards/Collaboration

Online whiteboard tools you can use for brainstorming, creating visualizations of meetings, which can be used in real-time as well as before and after live sessions to capture information visually.

  • Slido

    Description

    Slido is an audience interaction online platform tool for
    meetings big or small, workshops, classrooms, events
    and conferences.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Slido can be used to brainstorm a concept, as an icebreaker, to test knowledge on learning, to create conversations, facilitate a checklist, conduct a reflection, rate satisfaction of a session, etc.
    • Slido is used during webinars for participants to ask questions anonymously. Other participants can vote questions up so session facilitators can choose what is of interest to the group.
    • Slido offers a number of additional ways to use their tools in meetings, conferences, training, classes, and more.
    • Slido can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create engaging and interactive activities that can be used during live sessions to help inform, teach, and engage with Newcomers.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Slido has a free version as well as various paid levels. The free version allows you to use 3 polls/event for up to 100 participants, with an Unlimited Audience Q&A feature.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Slido is easy to use for participants. They simply need a link provided, which can be done by copying the link into a chat box, or by sharing a QR code. Sli.do is also easy to use for practitioners, once you have become oriented to the tool and how it can be used.

    Slido can be integrated into other tools, such as Teams and Google Slides, or used as a standalone tool outside of presentations.

    Mobile friendly

    Slido is mobile friendly for participants, on any device, without having to download any apps.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    According to Slido “you can secure your event by adjusting its privacy settings. Basic events are visible in the search results and can be accessed by typing in the event code… You can hide your event code from the search suggestions. Only those participants who have the exact code will be able to access the event during the dates of the Slido event.”

    They have a useful overview of their security standards and practices. Note: they “provide organisers of the paid versions of the Slido Services with additional tools & settings to enable their own users to protect their data.”

    Multilingual capabilities

    Slido is multilingual and offers 30+ languages to choose from.

    Additional resources

  • Padlet

    Description

    Padlet is a virtual bulletin board in which collaborators can simultaneously create and organize posts of any content type, whether it be text, documents, images, videos, audio, or links.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Used in language training to encourage students to quickly and easily share with teachers/classmates.
    • Padlet can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival to create visual information to help inform and engage with Newcomers visually.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    A free account allows you to create 3 padlets with up to 20MB file size per upload. Padlet has additional paid personal and organizational accounts.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Padlets are easy to set up and use.

    Padlet admits that “accessibility is an area we are behind in.” However, they are working to improve this.

    Mobile friendly

    Padlet is accessible on mobile devices through the web browser.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Free and individual accounts allow your padlets to be public or secret, available only to those you share it with. You can find out more about privacy features in this help article. They should be used for activities where no personal information is shared.

    Premium accounts offer additional privacy and security settings. For example, for educational settings:

    More privacy

    “All padlets, by default, are only visible to the people in your school. All this without compromising on the ease of sharing with others, including sharing outside the school when you have to.”

    Extra security

    “If your school is the type that likes to limit access to its content to the walls of its campus (firewall, if you will), we can do that. This is on top of our already sweet security – our servers are well protected; we use SSL to transfer data between your computers and our servers, the same technology used by banks; we backup your data every day.”

    Multilingual capabilities

    Padlet supports a number of languages.

    Additional resources

  • Ideabordz

    Description

    Ideabordz is a simple online white board tool you can use during a live online meeting/session. Participants can fill out sticky notes together, live, during the session. IdeaBoardz is a team collaboration tool. It allows teams to collectively brainstorm, gather inputs, reflect and retrospect.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Idealbordz can been used during webinars, online video conference meetings, and community sessions as a brainstorming tool to capture simple information such as what went well, what didn’t go well, and action items to capture. Participants can vote on ideas to generate priorities.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    IdeaBordz is a free tool.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    IdeaBordz is simple and intuitive to use, and does not require an account to use.

    IdeaBordz indicates that it is best viewed on Chrome, FireFox, or Safari web browsers on your computer.

    Mobile friendly

    IdeaBordz is mobile friendly and works well in mobile web browsers.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Creating an account and logging into the site is optional. You can choose not to login and still use IdeaBoardz. If you do create an account, Ideabordz says that they “store only your name and email id to identify you when you visit next.”

    Multilingual capabilities

    IdeaBordz is available in English only.

    Additional resources

  • Mural

    Description

    Mural is an online visual collaboration space, a whiteboard tool you can use during a live online meeting/session. You can also use it as a planning, idea generating, and visualization tool to create simple and comprehensive visualizations and diagrams and collaborate with others on ideas.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Mural can been used during webinars, online video conference meetings, and community sessions as a brainstorming, meeting, visual collaboration, design, and Newcomer engagement tool.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Mural has a free version and a number of paid options with additional features.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Mural has a learning curve to become comfortable using the tool, but is fairly intuitive as you learn to use it.

    Mural has information about accessibility and compliance with accessibility standards.

    Mobile friendly

    Mural can be used on mobile apps and has useful information about optimal technical requirements to use it.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Mural has robust security and privacy features, including data encryption. Find out more here.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Mural is currently only available in English.

    Additional resources

  • Miro

    Description

    Miro is an online visual collaboration space, a whiteboard tool you can use during a live online meeting/session. You can also use it as a planning, idea generating, and visualization tool to create simple and comprehensive visualizations and diagrams and collaborate with others on ideas.

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Miro can been used during webinars, online video conference meetings, and community sessions as a brainstorming, meeting, visual collaboration, design, and Newcomer engagement tool.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Miro has a free version and a number of paid options with additional features. They offer a discount for nonprofits on their paid plans.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Miro has a learning curve to become comfortable using the tool, but is fairly intuitive as you learn to use it.

    Miro has information about accessibility features and functions.

    Mobile friendly

    Miro can be used on mobile Android and iOS apps.

    Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption

    Multilingual capabilities

    Miro appears to be available in English only.

    Additional resources

  • Google Sites

    Description

    Google Sites is a Google web application that allows users to create simple websites. Google Sites is free to use (with a paid option that offers more storage capability) and is included in

    Google Sites is a Google web application that allows users to create simple websites. Google Sites is free to use (with a paid option that offers more storage capability) and is included in the Google Workspace which offers discounted rates for nonprofits (including a free tier). If you’re looking for a simple drag-and-drop web design tool for developing class websites, student project sites, or encouraging students to show their knowledge in different ways, check out Google Sites.

    If you’re looking for a simple drag-and-drop web design tool for developing class websites, student project sites, or encouraging students to show their knowledge in different ways, check out Google Sites.

    Current known uses in the sector

    Video overview

    Pricing

    You can use Google Sites with any free Google account. Google Workspace offers discounted rates for nonprofits (including a free tier).

    Service Context and activities

    Google Sites can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival as a tool to share information with Newcomers.

    Make sure you do not use a personal Google account. Your organization should have an account, or you should create a separate account that is specific and only for work-related websites or pages created on Google Sites.

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Creating websites/pages using Google Sites is fairly easy and intuitive. You can create sites using existing templates or from a blank canvas. General information on using Google Sites with assistive technologies can be found on Google’s Use Google Sites with a screen reader page. Additional useful information about accessibility can be found here.

    Mobile friendly

    Sites created on Google Sites are mobile friendly.

    Privacy/security features (including data security and message encryption)

    When creating a Google account, a valid name, email address, username, and password are required. It is also optional to provide a phone number to recover your account if the password is lost. Upon creation of your account, Google closely tracks your searches, bookmarks, and location services, among other data. These underlying data collection practices and Google’s sharing of your information with third parties make the use of Google tools for personal purposes unsafe.

    Multilingual capabilities

    Unclear.

    Additional resources

  • Google Jamboard

    Important update from Google: “Google Jamboard is winding down

    Google Jamboard will no longer be available after December 31, 2024 across Web, iOS, Android, and Google Meet devices. Your Jam data will be available for you to export or migrate to one of our whiteboard partners, like FigJam, Lucidspark, and Miro, until that date.” 

    Description

    Jamboard is a Google tool that allows users to creatively organize, format, and present information through text, images, shapes, and drawings. Jamboard falls under the category of virtual whiteboards – allowing users to write, draw, and erase like a traditional whiteboard, but also it features added digital functions (e.g., importing from Google Search, Google Drive, or Google Photos). Users can collaborate on the same Jamboard slide from separate devices, making this a community-centered tool. Up to 50 separate Google accounts can be added as collaborators on a single jam. A link to the jam can also be made public, which allows anyone with Internet access to view or edit it. Jamboard can enhance participation by allowing collaborators to visually portray their learning and thinking. This also helps practitioners gain knowledge on what their clients are comprehending in real-time. It is a great tool for collaboration in in-person, online, synchronous, and asynchronous settings. 

    Current known uses in the sector

    • Collaboration with participants during live video meetings and webinars
    • Visual collaboration with clients, one-on-one or individual
    • Used as part of Google Classroom suite of tools
    • Jamboard can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools as a tool to engage with Newcomers visually, brainstorm ideas, capture Newcomer feedback, ideas, insights, suggestions, comprehension, etc.

    Video overview

    Pricing

    Free with a Google Account

    Ease of use & Accessibility

    Jamboard can be used with a computer mouse or laptop touchpad or with your fingers on a smartphone via the mobile or web app. Unfortunately, Jamboard is not user-friendly for people who can only use a keyboard or who have limited fine motor skills, since a mouse or touchpad is required for many features. Although there aren’t many designated functions for accessibility, changing text size and color is possible and simple to adjust. 

    Jamboard will only allow the creator to share their jam with 50 collaborators (50 separate google accounts). If the link to the jam is set to “anyone with the link can view or edit” then an unlimited number of people can join, though not more than 50 at the same time can make edits. It is also worth noting that Jamboard has a limit of 20 frames per jam.

    Mobile friendly

    Yes, works well on mobile devices, including smartphones.

    Privacy/security features (including data security and message encryption)

    Jamboards can be shared for participants to use anonymously.

    When creating a Google account, a valid name, email address, username, and password are required. It is also optional to provide a phone number to recover your account if the password is lost. Upon creation of your account, Google closely tracks your searches, bookmarks, and location services, among other data. These underlying data collection practices and Google’s sharing of your information with third parties make the use of Google tools for personal purposes unsafe. 

    However, Jamboard falls under Google Workspace for Education, a collection of Google tools that have added security measures for educational purposes. This includes built-in protections such as safeguarding user data and complete data transparency. Google Workspace for Education also complies with both FERPA and COPPA standards. Although Google is typically unreliable with data protection, Google Workspace for Education adds additional precautions to school-related data accounts for its suite of tools, which includes Jamboard. 

    Make sure you do not use a personal Google account. Your organization should have an account, or you should create a separate account that is specific and only for work-related Jamboards.

    Multilingual capabilities

    The interface will be in English, but this video highlights how it can be used to support multilingual participants:

    Additional resources