Jamboard

What is Jamboard?

Google Jamboard is a virtual whiteboarding solution that offers some substantial benefits for instruction. And while it is especially impressive when used in conjunction with a large mounted touch display, the app alone is free for education and works on a multitude of devices. Using either a stylus or finger, Jamboard offers impressively responsive drawing functionality. In addition to simple drawing tools, Jamboard also offers the ability to create typed sticky notes, import images, auto-shape and auto-text recognition, and the ability to import other content.

Why Use Jamboard?

To understand the benefits of Jamboard, first think about the drawbacks of a traditional whiteboard in a classroom:

Traditional Whiteboard Drawbacks

  • It's stationary (difficult/impossible for others outside the classroom to see)
  • The instructor's back is turned to the class while writing
  • Collaboration is limited by physical space
  • Combining writing, images, and other content is tedious
  • Your work can't be saved without taking a static photo

Even modern smart boards can run into some of the same problems. Not to mention the fact that they are an expensive tool that is, again, typically stationary. In comparison, Jamboard can facilitate brainstorming and collaboration with several benefits:

Jamboard Benefits

  • Cloud-based application that can be accessed anywhere on a wide range of devices
  • An instructor can utilize the whiteboard on a mobile device, allowing freedom to move around the room as they work
  • Students and instructors can collaborate on the same virtual whiteboard simultaneously
  • Simple to import web content, images, documents, and other content
  • All work is saved automatically to the cloud. A whiteboard can be accessed after class is over by students, and whiteboards can also be exported into static images or PDFs

Because of its versatility, Jamboard can facilitate visual brainstorming and collaborations never before possible. Creating pages within a single Jam allows student groups to create content collaboratively and easily browse through their classmates' work.

How do I Start Using Jamboard?

The Google Jamboard app is available for free with Google G Suite for Education. Google Jamboard can be used as a web-based app in Chrome or through the mobile app for Android and iOS. Be aware that using the Jamboard app on a touch device such as an iPad will provide more functionality.

Once a new Jam is created, any work will be automatically saved in the cloud. Additionally, Jams can be shared with others, allowing for multiple contributors or the sharing of content across multiple devices. The way in which you use the capabilities will depend largely on your instructional context. Face-to-face, online, telepresence, and other delivery types can all benefit from Jamboard in slightly different ways. For more detailed information of how to get started with Jamboard, check out the video below.

Who Else is Using Jamboard?

Check out some of CVTC's Innovative Educators listed below, who are already putting Jamboard to use in their instruction!

Tiffany Tibbitts - Using Jamboard for More Engaging Discussions

This has been very useful for this particular group of students. It feels informal because they can use the sticky notes (their favorite), pictures, drawings, or write right on the Jam. In addition, the Jam is anonymous which takes away the fear of saying something wrong in front of a peer. This strategy helps to ease some of the anxiety they might feel about class discussions.

It is also nice because I can review after class to see where we are solid and where we might need additional instruction. With a normal discussion, I might jot down some notes, but I miss a lot. I also share it with the online students, either in an announcement or upload to the discussion board.

Because this class in about technology use in classroom settings, I think it will be interesting to save these notes over the next few years of class and have future students take a look at them and think about how education technology has evolved.

I am still going to work with my students on developing confidence to share with the group, but this has been helpful in the interim.