More advanced whiteboards

Concept board - orb showing diagram of collaboration

Where do you go next when you have whiteboard enthusiasm but have outgrown Google Jamboard?

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Jamboard is a simple, intuitive whiteboard that is great for getting people started. And thus helping them appreciate the benefits of such participative engagement in meetings. But its simplicity comes at a cost. It has a number of limitations that can begin to get in the way of more advanced usage:
  • Limited (small) board size
  • Picture of Google Jamboard Plain Simple IntuitiveBasic role permissions
  • No ‘follow me’ capability
  • Lack of hyperlinking
  • Restricted editing
  • Inability to pin items in place
  • Poor copy/paste options
  • No multiple select or grouping
  • Lack of sticky note import/export
For quick and straight forward activities this is not a problem, in fact it is an advantage. An advantage that may lead you to keep Jamboard as a option even when you migrate to a more sophisticated tool.
But at some point you may need more space, the ability to create longer visual journeys. And to build the output of one activity into the resources for another (among other things) – what we call information landscaping.
Certainly for my own work with client workshops and training sessions, I generally find jamboard too restrictive and use more advanced whiteboards.

More advanced whiteboards

Example conceptboard - illustration of part of an advanced whiteboardMy own preference is for one of two advanced whiteboards. Both of these have similar (and extensive) functionality. But they are quite different in their feel, and in respect to additional functionality.
  1. Conceptboard has a PowerPoint like interface and tools, an infinite canvas, and most importantly (for me at least) the ability to create single click templates. These enable others to use resources I have created instantly for their own work. And to immediately engage others to participate in that. In the same way that I have more recently done with Jamboard. This has enabled me to create this helpful familiarisation board which you can access, use, and share as your own.
  2. Mural has an interface that will be less familiar to most people, but which is more suited to whiteboards. This means it may take a bit longer to find what you are looking for initially, but it grows on you. Its canvas, while not infinite, is bigger than I have yet needed. It also commands more market share than Conceptboard, and so may be more familiar to existing whiteboarders.
Both of these advanced whiteboards overcome all of the issues listed in the bullet points above. They have free versions, and relatively inexpensive pro versions. They both have a range of built in templates, and the ability to vote on sticky notes. And they both work well with large scale back drops. These can be created in PowerPoint and used to create an attractive flow through the work to be done.

Further whiteboards

There are many more whiteboards available:
  1. Microsoft Whiteboard, which is just receiving a significant update. This will bring it close to the functionality of the two listed above. However, it places unhelpful restrictions (albeit for security reasons) on providing access to people outside your organisation
  2. Miro, which is similar in may ways to Mural, and is probably its major competitor. However I have in the past struggled to find an economic license model. Or at least one which allows me the freedom to do what I want to do with Conceptboard
  3. Klaxoon, which has an interesting way of working which originated in a ‘full meeting’ basket of functionality. I find it confusing at times. But it does illustrate the point that, if you are a consultant, your choice of whiteboard may be dictated by your client.
  4. Collaboration Superpowers hosts a list of many others
Whichever route you take, if you can win your participants over to whiteboards beforehand. Particularly through using something like Jamboard. Then it is much more likely that they will see the value in investing the time needed to learn how to participate effectively.
That said, I tend to spend 15-30 minutes with each new participant ahead of time to ensure they have sufficient competence. Yes it is time consuming. But it is neither as stressful or as wasteful as having a board full of people who didn’t do the prep, and who are getting frustrated with everything and everyone except themselves. Deep joy!
Track your progress to ensure the efficacy of this strategy.