“Sometimes I feel alone,..."

📍Online collaboration

“Sometimes I feel alone, I see my classmates on the screen, I talk to them through the microphone, but I can't really feel them.” 

©Copyright: eztalks.com

This is one of my students told me about how she felt in an online English class. At that moment, I realized that talking to each other is not enough for the students' learning and psychological needs, they need to collaborate! Conceptboard is a good assistant for students to work together 🤝.

📍 What is Conceptboard?

Simply put, Conceptboard is an online whiteboard built for remote collaboration. You can visualize your ideas on this whiteboard using versatile tools such as sketches, sticky notes, shapes and arrows. Conceptboard also allows teams to co-create projects and stay connected in real time by sharing screens and making video calls in the application. 

Screenshot from Conceptboard

📍 Why Conceptboard?

• All-in-one whiteboard. Users can add not only texts and images to the whiteboard, but also files, audios and videos. 

• Build relationships. The Conceptboard allows students to negotiate and collaborate with each other across locations and time zones.

• Facilitate brainstorming. Easy and fast connection between each block makes brainstorming more participative, engaging and productive.

📍 How can we use Conceptboard?

To enable students to collaborate with Conceptboard, all you need to do is: 

1. divide students into groups
2. assign each group a link to their shared Conceptboard 
3. give them the task instruction

One more thing ⏰, if you ask students to work collaboratively in class, don't forget to tell them the set time; if you make it a task to be done at home, it would be better to inform them of the deadline they need to complete. For students to get started with Conceptboard, this video will be really helpful:

More than an online collaboration tool, Conceptboard also can be employed as an online teaching platform. For example, think of a boundless whiteboard as a knowledge map on which you can write down some key points and put some activity materials in the lesson planning stage. During the class, just ask students to explore this treasure map with you! *Although you need to spend a lot of time and effort on designing this map, but I think it's worth it.

REMEMBER, how creative you are, how functional it is! 

📍 Any limitations?

• Free account is only allowed to add up to 100 objects per board. If you want to unlock more features, you need to upgrade your account. More information on the payment plans can be accessed here.

• Conceptboard requires students to spend time to learn how to use it. For students who are sensitive to technology may take only a few minutes, but those who are not, they may take a long time or even become resistant.

• Conceptboard is not irreplaceable. I have to say that there are many other products offering digital interactive whiteboards, such as Stormboard and Miro, that are functionally similar.

📍 Conclusion

Conceptboard is a powerful online collaboration tool for students, but its affordance is not limited to collaboration. Welcome to share your ideas on comments, see you next week!