Overview
This article introduces the "Class Whiteboard" view, accessible via the Views Tabs section. When selected, it will load the classroom whiteboard into the main panel. This tab will only appear if there is classroom whiteboard activity taking place. Below is a visual example of the Class Whiteboard view:
As the tab's name implies, this is the view you can use to see the classroom whiteboard, where class participants can draw items onto a shared canvas.
The majority of the page will be occupied by the canvas, while a left-hand bar is provided that contains drawing instruments and other tools. There also additional controls at the top-right of the canvas.
Left-Hand Toolbar
Below, we will go over all the tools provided in the left-hand bar:
- Select Object - This tool will allow you to select objects on the canvas and interact with them, such as moving, resizing, and deleting them.
- Pan - Represented by the hand icon, this tool lets you navigate the canvas. Click and drag while selected to pan across the workspace.
- Add Shape - Selecting this will expand a menu, offering several shapes you can select to be added to the canvas.
- Drawing - Select this to expand a menu, offering either a Brush or Pencil option for freehand drawing on the canvas.
- Highlighter - Select this to activate the highlighter tool.
- Add Text - Select this to add text to the canvas.
- Add Formula - Select this to add formulas to the canvas. You can key in the formula directly using LaTeX syntax or use the on-screen keyboard to look for specific symbols.
- Add Note - Select this to add a sticky note to the canvas.
- Add File - Use this to upload a file to the canvas. Supported file types typically include images and documents. Once uploaded, the file will appear as a generic icon that others can download. To download it, make sure the "Select Object" tool is enabled, then double-click the file icon. For example, here’s how a PDF file looks when added using this tool:
- Add Image - Use this to upload an image to the canvas. Unlike the "Add File" tool, the image will be displayed in full rather than as a generic icon. Here’s an example of how an uploaded image of a zebra appears on the canvas:
- Color - Select this to set the color associated with any objects where color is applicable, such as drawing and highlighting.
- Remove Object - To delete an object, select it and then click this. Alternatively, you can hit Delete on your keyboard.
- Undo My Last Action - Click this to undo your last action.
- Clear Board - Click this to delete all objects. This tool is only available to Instructors and TAs.
- Settings - Click this to open the settings menu. This menu is only available to Instructors and TAs. Below are the settings options available:
- Restrict Editing to Staff - Enable this to limit editing of the whiteboard to Instructors and TAs. The rest of the class participants will still see the canvas and any changes made to it, they just won't be able to participate. When starting a Class Whiteboard, this option will be disabled, by default, allowing all participants to instantly interact with the canvas.
- Download Screenshot - This will take a screenshot of the whiteboard and download it to your computer.
If you are using a small display, some of the toolbar buttons may be consolidated into other buttons. If you feel there should be tools available to you, but you are not seeing them, please look for any buttons that expand into a dropdown to see if they are nested within there.
Top-Right Controls
At the top-right of the canvas are additional controls, which we'll cover below:
- Zoom - The default zoom for the canvas is set to 100%. Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out of the canvas. This will affect only your own view; each participant is free to set their own zoom level.
- Follow Me / Stop Follow Me - As the canvas is expansive, it's easy for participants to lose their bearings. If a participant pans too far from the starting area, they might have trouble navigating back to where others are working. Toggling the Follow Me feature prevents all participants from panning or zooming independently and instead syncs their view to match yours. This toggle is only available to staff members. While Follow Me is active, the staff member who is leading the whiteboard (i.e. the one who toggled it) will see a "Leading Whiteboard" label at the top of the canvas, as shown below:
All other participants will have their pan and zoom options locked and will see a "Following Instructor" label at the top of the canvas, as shown below: - Stop Whiteboard - Click this to stop the whiteboard activity. This button is only available to staff members.