Amidst the global challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zoom emerged as a lifeline for businesses, enabling seamless virtual connections when physical meetings became impractical. As the world shifted to remote work and online interactions, the use of Zoom skyrocketed, transforming how we conduct meetings and collaborate. Interactive digital boards, often called “smart boards,” have been a mainstay in many workplaces for a while now. In 2022, Zoom introduced a virtual “smart board,” the Zoom whiteboard. This post explores how the Zoom whiteboard takes virtual collaboration to new heights with real-time collaboration, empowering businesses to bridge physical distance and enhance productivity.
The Zoom whiteboard is ideal for virtual or hybrid business meetings, team brainstorming sessions, and breakout groups. You can achieve almost everything with Zoom's whiteboard that you would in an in-person meeting, whether you’re running a hybrid, asynchronous virtual, or synchronous virtual meeting.
Access the Zoom whiteboard from within a Zoom meeting from the black menu bar. (See image below)
It can also be accessed outside of a Zoom meeting via the left menu in your Zoom account. Additionally, Zoom whiteboards can be shared before or after meetings via a link, with editing or viewing permissions assigned as needed. (See image below)
Here are a few suggestions to kickstart your use.
1. Minimize wastage of time by pre-loading the whiteboard with text and images to clarify a _.-concept or process you'll be discussing.
2. Create a separate whiteboard as a “parking lot” for ideas to be addressed later and utilized _.-throughout the project.
3. Formulate a cheat sheet of formulas, processes, or other information crucial to your
_.-business function. Grant edit access to participants so that they can contribute to this
_.-resource. The cheat sheet can serve as a reference guide.
4. Illustrate concepts in real-time using the drawing tool.
5. Establish small group discussions or problem-solving sessions, encouraging participants _.-to take notes on the whiteboard.
6. Solicit feedback on a particular topic using the comments feature.
7. Collect feedback from participants at the end of a meeting using the Know-Wonder-Learn _.-template provided with the Zoom whiteboard.
8. Annotate images or PDFs of diagrams, text, visuals, charts, and graphs.
9. Use the sticky notes for a brainstorming session, and use the shapes for dot voting.
10. Preserve and share whiteboards with participants pre- or post-meeting, and grant them _.-_.edit or comment permissions.
Zoom’s whiteboard effectively keeps participants involved, so don't hesitate to explore its capabilities!
As with any new app, tool, or website, practice with the Zoom whiteboard to ensure it aligns with your expectations. Avoid any surprises right before or during your meeting, even if it’s a recommendation from a trusted source!
If you haven’t used the Zoom whiteboard before, think about two activities you have conducted in person and how you could adapt them for a virtual or hybrid setting using the Zoom whiteboard. Many activities done in meetings with flipchart paper and sticky notes translate well to the Zoom whiteboard. If you conduct asynchronous virtual meetings, think of how you could share a link to the Zoom whiteboard before or after a meeting to improve productivity.
