5 Tips for running effective whiteboarding sessions

Whiteboarding may seem like just another way to take notes in class, but it's actually a unique skill that can help you in your career. Whether you're in the middle of an important presentation or trying to nail down the structure of an important project, whiteboarding can make it easier to visualize and communicate your ideas. Here's what you need to know about this handy tool!

What is whiteboarding?

The term whiteboarding refers to collaborative processes that rely on whiteboards. Today, digital whiteboards have become increasingly popular, so they can be used to ideate and collaborate in more situations, including in remote or distributed team environments.

By adding a digital whiteboard to a video conference, participants can make and share edits or annotations during the session in the same way they would on a traditional, physical whiteboard. To be the most effective in using an online whiteboard, make sure you are using a platform such as Conceptboard.

What should I use whiteboarding for?

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Visual thinking

Content can be explained, understood, and retained easier with visual thinking. And we know that visuals can communicate ideas in a way that words cannot. A recent study from Indiana University found that writing down notes helped us understand many topics, including "idea composition and expression." In IT, whiteboarding sessions help sort out complicated flow charts or designs.

Collaborative learning

Tutors often find that whiteboarding provides a highly participatory classroom setting that keeps students engaged during tech job interviews. This is because it is an engaging and visual way to promote group learning, and allows for all members of the team to participate in the process. 

One technique to keep all learners involved is to give everyone one piece of paper, have them place it face down on their desk, and then have them work together as a team to figure out what needs to be written on it.  Another technique involves having the student create the drawing themselves, so they will take ownership of it and make it their own.

Brainstorming

Ideation and brainstorming sessions can be enhanced by using an online whiteboard with infinite canvas and tools such as digital sticky notes, shapes, and sketching tools. This is because people are able to share their ideas more freely and easily through the use of a digital board that is not limited in size or space, therefore increasing the number of possible solutions for any given problem. 

While some participants may feel inhibited by a physical board, many have reported feeling more confident when working on a digital board.

Feedback in context for visual projects

It can be a great tool for both content creators and product designers. This helps projects to move forward without any interruption, thus helping avoid roadblocks waiting for approvals or decisions.

So if you're ready to experience the power of whiteboarding, be sure to check out our top 5 tips for running successful whiteboarding sessions.

Tips for running effective online whiteboarding sessions

Use a collaborative online whiteboard

Whiteboarding is a great method to spice up your team meetings if they've become dull. The saying "change the way you think, and the things you think will change" is a great way to think about how online whiteboarding can benefit your organization. Using an online whiteboard for the first time will generate interest and stimulate some creative ideas. Another big advantage of online whiteboarding is the ability for anyone to participate in real-time, regardless of their location, creating a truly dynamic discussion.

Use a template to stay focused

While the old adage 'no idea is a bad idea' may ring true in brainstorming sessions, if you are running a whiteboarding session that is focused on solving a particular problem, it's important to stay focused. When your workshop includes lots of ideas, write the problem you are trying to solve at the top of the board so your participants don't get sidetracked.

Spend some time browsing our library of planning tools like brainstorming templates, strategy development templates, and product development templates. If a tangential topic pops up and you don't want to forget about it, mark it for later and go back to it at a later time. 

Make use of the infinite canvas

The best online whiteboards provide an unlimited surface to work on. They allow you to work on and add as much content as you want without ever erasing anything. Upload files, like photos, videos, PDFs, and documents, so that you can view all aspects of a project on one page.

This will give you a quick understanding of a project. This is great for large projects because it helps teams visualize the whole project from start to finish. It also makes it easier for remote workers to join in on meetings with their team members in other locations.

Collaborative whiteboarding sessions

One of the best features of an online whiteboard is that you can be discussing an idea in real time with the entire team. For people who are too nervous to share their opinion aloud, it gives them a chance to brainstorm on the whiteboard. At a Cubo whiteboarding session, participants can work on tasks, type notes on the board, have a conversation in the chat section, and view a live cursor of what their peers are doing with their time. Just toggle off live cursors if you need to get down to work.

Turn on your camera

When all team members join a video conference, one should switch on the video camera, too. Doing so not only will give the session a more personal dimension, but it also will help people be in sync as a team. It's crucial for remote teams to use video-conferencing for interaction to create team culture. This way you can share your screens and write on them with a pen or marker. The most important thing is that this tool is collaborative and lets you break down complex problems together.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whiteboarding is a valuable tool for brainstorming and communicating complex thoughts. When used effectively, it can help you to communicate your ideas clearly and succinctly. However, it is not without its own difficulties; it takes practice to become skilled at whiteboarding. Use these five tips as a guide to make your next whiteboard session more successful.