Microsoft Whiteboard
Microsoft Whiteboard is a collaborative digital canvas for individual use or for collaborative use during meetings.
Microsoft Whiteboard enables users to:
- brainstorm through posting ideas on the Whiteboard
- plan activities and collaborate with peers synchronously and asynchronously.
Microsoft Whiteboard is a freeform, digital canvas where people, content, and ideas come together. You can use Whiteboard for collaborating with your team to accomplish many activities — whether your team is in the same place or in multiple locations.
AI elements
Microsoft Whiteboard does not have specific AI features. The AI capabilities in Whiteboard, such as idea generation, organisation, and summarisation, are primarily driven by CoPilot.
List of functions
Microsoft Whiteboard offers the following features that be used:
- Running effective meetings
- Brainstorming
- Learning and coaching
- Sprint planning
- Project management
- Problem solving
- Continuous improvement
- Incident management
Microsoft Whiteboard can be used in teaching and learning in the following ways:
- Brainstorming and reflection
- Icebreakers
- Rapid ideation for group problem-solving
- Assessing students’ prior knowledge
Support resources
Deakin Resources:
Microsoft Whiteboard: A resource for you to learn how to leverage Microsoft Whiteboard in less than half an hour.
Additional Resources:
Microsoft Learn: explore the different features and functionality of the M365 suite completing modules at your own pace.
Examples
The use cases below showcase some ways in which you can leverage Microsoft Whiteboard and the features for teaching and learning:
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Collaboration
Project ideation – promote collaborative ideas generation in project-based learning
As a teacher I want to offer my students a mode of synchronous interaction to brainstorm their ideas for a collaborative project-based activity.
My students can connect with each other and collaborate on key ideas in the online space, share their ideas on a digital canvas, and explore other peoples’ ideas.
Example design considerations when seeking idea generation using Whiteboard:
- Encourage students to build their ideas using the features of Whiteboard in synchronous sessions, e.g. post-it notes, texts, free hand writing or drawing.
- After ideas are exhausted (or a time limit has been reached), guide students to discuss the merits of the ideas with the aim of reaching a consensus.
- Moderate the activity where appropriate and engage with students by using reactions or other forms of feedback.
- A different type of digital tool to consider for project ideation is Padlet.
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Production
Product development processes – collaborative student recording of product development processes
As a teacher I want student groups to record, reflect on, and evidence the processes they took to produce a physical product, artefact, or performance.
My students can collaboratively and iteratively produce a visual representation to evidence their team’s product development for feedback on team and/or product development processes.
Example design considerations when seeking idea generation using Whiteboard:
- Whiteboard offers a digital tool for student teams to digitally represent a transitory process, e.g. the steps and associated thinking in collaboratively producing an artwork or event.
- During iterative team meetings, students can collaboratively construct a digital display to detail the processes of their product development, using the features of Whiteboard, e.g. images, stickers, post-it notes, text, free hand drawing.
- The display can subsequently form an artefact to stimulate reflection (e.g. Where were the points of problem-solving most evident?) and/or receive feedback.
- Alternative digital tools to consider for evidencing product development processes are Padlet or Mural.
