The University of Minnesota recently enabled the use of Zoom Whiteboard, a new tool for visual collaboration.
Key features of Zoom Whiteboard
- provides a large canvas to write, draw, mark up images, insert sticky notes, and connect ideas using lines and shapes
- offers space for spontaneous, dynamic writing and annotation
- combines the collaborative functions and shareability that many of us are accustomed to from tools like Google Drive
The Creating and Collaborating with Zoom Whiteboard video demonstrates how to create a Whiteboard and share it with others:
Inclusive and Accessible Practices with Zoom Whiteboard
Whiteboards are inherently a visual tool so they are an inequitable medium for people with low to no vision. As of this time, people who use screen readers are unable to contribute to Zoom Whiteboards on their own due to technical barriers with the tool.
As additional layers, such as sticky notes, images, and text comments, are added to a Whiteboard, it is challenging for screen readers to present the focus indicators for the increasing number of layers. A focus indicator “...allows a keyboard user to see exactly where they are at any given moment. Without it, they wouldn’t know where they are on a page and they wouldn’t be able to navigate the page and operate its controls. The focus indicator is to keyboard users what the mouse cursor is to mouse users” (Soueidan, 2023).
Suggested practices
- Share guidelines and expectations for how the Whiteboard will be used. For example, make sure the group has a shared understanding if colors or shapes mean something on the board. If shapes or colors are important, create a legend.
- Be aware of color contrast ratios for placement of sticky notes on top of each other. For example, avoid contrasts with red and green for emphasis. Put Whiteboard elements (sticky notes, images, and text comments) next to each other with a red shape on the right, and a green shape on the left instead of on top of or overlapping one another.
- Use templates and clear instructions.
- For small group brainstorming activities, assign/elect a notetaker for each group.
- After a brainstorming/contribution activity, have a representative from each group read their contributions aloud and visually narrate their location/s on the Whiteboard.
When people are collaborating and moving things around the Whiteboard, it is challenging for a screen reader to match the pace of activity.
Suggested practice
- After a brainstorming/contribution activity, pause for a specific amount of time to allow for independent reading and processing of the new additions to the Whiteboard.
Teaching use cases with existing Whiteboard templates
Example #1: Mind Mapping
Mind Mapping is a useful tool for creating a hierarchy and connecting thoughts and ideas into a useful diagram. Zoom Whiteboard has a plethora of tools and visuals to help students conceptualize large thoughts and break them down into bite-size connected ideas.
Example #2: Prezi-style Presentations
Multiple frames can be created within a Zoom Whiteboard. The frames can be navigated in a linear way, similar to moving between slides in a PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation. Students can collaborate on the frames and see updates instantaneously.
Example #3: Kanban Boards
Zoom Whiteboard allows the creation of Kanban-style boards, a project management tool to foster efficient tracking of tasks and projects amongst a group. Students can create and assign tasks as well as provide comments and take notes within the tasks.
Example #4: Vision and Mood Boards
Vision boards can be created for design courses to help students visualize thoughts and ideas in a collective space. Useful for conceptualizing complex thoughts and emotions such as aesthetics and “vibes.”
Resources
Enroll in the Zoom Learning Center’s free Welcome to Zoom Whiteboard course to learn all the different ways Zoom Whiteboard can empower collaboration. The estimated course completion time is 11 minutes.
Register for the UMN Explore teaching uses of Zoom Whiteboard 60-minute live session offered in January 2024.
References
Soueidan, S. (2023, August 27). A guide to designing accessible, WCAG-conformant focus indicators. Sara Soueidan. https://www.sarasoueidan.com
Contributors
Cody Bauleke, Khaled Musa, Rebecca George-Burrs, and Jennifer Englund contributed to the creation and writing of this post.