Those who want to make lessons more interactive and flexible rely on digital tools for teaching. The use of online whiteboards such as Collaboard opens up new opportunities to make learning processes clear and collaborative and is particularly suitable for institutions with strict data protection and security guidelines. This provides a future-oriented learning environment that supports both students and teachers in the long term. This is also reported by the University of Kassel, which has been using Collaboard for several years.
In this article, you will learn about the advantages of online tools in the classroom and how Collaboard contributes to interactive and data-secure design. We shed light on the possibilities of personal learning processes, show the benefits of visual lesson design and offer practical tips on what you should look out for when choosing the right tool.
What are the Advantages of Digital Tools in the Classroom?
Digital tools bring a variety of benefits to the classroom, supporting both students and teachers in the learning process. They promote interactive and personalized learning opportunities, facilitate collaboration and offer flexible options for lesson design. The integration of an online whiteboard such as Collaboard particularly highlights the advantages of digital teaching.
Personalized learning processes through digital tools
Digital tools make it possible to adapt lesson content. Students can work at their own pace and use materials that support their learning progress. On Collaboard, learning content can be easily structured in groups, adapted and delivered to students at different levels.
Promoting cooperation and communication
Digital platforms support collaboration between students and teachers. Whether in class or as homework - digital tools allow students to work on projects together, share content and give feedback. As an interactive whiteboard, Collaboard offers the opportunity to work together on one platform. Teachers can give students targeted feedback and track progress in real time.
Interactive and visual lesson design with digital whiteboard apps
Digital tools can be used to make teaching material clearer and more tangible, making it easier to understand complex topics. Graphics, videos and interactive content make learning more exciting and help students to grasp content better. Collaboard offers a wide range of tools that can be used to prepare learning content visually, such as diagrams, mind maps and interactive presentations.
Flexibility in terms of space and time
Online tools create a flexible learning environment that is accessible regardless of location. This allows students to work on content even after lessons have finished and makes the learning process more flexible. Collaboard supports learning in the classroom, but also learning from home or at other locations. A great advantage that also enables spontaneous lesson adaptations and homework.
Security and data protection for teaching apps
Besonders im schulischen Umfeld ist der Schutz personenbezogener Daten enorm wichtig. Collaboard bietet hier eine sichere Umgebung, in der alle Daten durch mehrstufige Verschlüsselung gesichert sind. Zudem sind Funktionen wie Single-Sign-On (SSO) und Berechtigungsmanagement verfügbar, um den Zugang für Schüler und Lehrkräfte sicher zu gestalten.
Key Considerations When Selecting an Online Teaching Tool
When deciding on a digital tool for teaching, factors such as data security, flexibility and easy integration into existing systems are extremely important. Data security is particularly relevant, especially for schools, universities and other educational institutions that often work with sensitive data. Here are some key points to consider when choosing a tool:
- Hosting and control of data: Make sure you have control over where your data is hosted. A tool like Collaboard offers flexible hosting options that allow you to run the whiteboard on your own servers or in a private cloud. This gives you full control over the data.
- Data security and encryption: Choose a tool that meets the highest security standards. Collaboard encrypts all data with TLS and 256-bit AES, both at rest and in transit. You also have the option of applying your own encryption keys and certificates, which provides an additional layer of security.
- Adaptation to internal guidelines: Schools and educational institutions often have strict security guidelines. A tool like Collaboard makes it possible to define access rights and security options. Sophisticated authorization management allows user roles to be precisely defined and synchronized with existing Active Directory groups.
- Ease of use and integration: A teaching tool should be easy to use and seamlessly integrated into existing systems. Collaboard supports integration with various platforms such as video conferencing tools and file sharing systems and offers an intuitive user interface that facilitates access for teachers and students.
- Offline use and network isolation: Especially for use in educational institutions, it is important to be able to use a tool offline or in isolated networks. Collaboard enables use in a completely isolated environment without Internet access, which provides additional security for educational institutions.
Digital Tools for Teaching: Examples
Apps and tools for the classroom offer interactive opportunities to increase student engagement and promote learning success. Here we present digital tools for the classroom as examples that differ from each other in terms of functionality and are particularly suitable for use in education.
Collaboard: Interactive and secure collaboration
Collaboard is a digital whiteboard that provides a data-secure platform for creative group work in the classroom. Collaboard is particularly suitable for use in institutions with high data protection guidelines, such as schools and universities, as it offers an on-premises option as well as private cloud options. Collaboard is designed for visual collaboration and enables simultaneous work on projects and ideas. Collaboard impresses with the following functions, among others:
- Interactive whiteboard interface with drawing, writing and drag-and-drop options
- Real-time collaboration and synchronization for group work
- Use as a digital whiteboard app
- Flexible hosting options (own server, private cloud)
- Customizable security options and integration with Active Directory
Collaboard can be used for group projects and presentations by allowing students to sketch ideas, visualize plans or create mind maps together. The real-time function makes it easier for several participants to work at the same time, and the high level of data security makes Collaboard particularly suitable for educational institutions that need to protect sensitive data. The on-premises option ensures that the tool can also be used without internet access, which provides additional protection.
Mentimeter: Interactive surveys and quizzes
Mentimeter is an interactive tool that teachers can use to engage students through real-time polls, quizzes or brainstorming sessions. Mentimeter can be used to gather opinions and ideas without requiring all students to participate verbally. This encourages active participation and helps to adapt the pace of the lesson to the understanding of the class. These are Mentimeter's functions:
- Live surveys, quizzes and word clouds
- Real-time results and visualizations
- Various question types (e.g. multiple choice, open questions)
Teachers can use Mentimeter to ask an introductory question at the beginning of the lesson to activate the students' prior knowledge. During the lesson, knowledge questions or short quizzes can check understanding, and at the end of a lesson, the tool is suitable for feedback questions on lesson design.
Kahoot: Playful learning with quiz elements
Kahoot is another interactive tool that has been specially developed for a playful approach to learning. With Kahoot, teachers can create interactive quiz games that can be integrated into lessons. With its competitive structure and scoring system, Kahoot motivates students to apply their knowledge in a fun way. Kahoot has the following range of functions:
- Quiz and educational games
- Customizable questions with time limits
- Scoring and leaderboards for competitive elements
Kahoot is particularly suitable for review phases or final questions after a topic. Students can compete against each other in teams or individually, which increases engagement and eagerness to learn. Kahoot is ideal for reviewing lesson content in a fun way while also having a positive influence on the classroom atmosphere.
Flipgrid: Video platform for asynchronous learning
Flipgrid is a video platform that has been specially developed for use in education. It enables students to respond to questions or tasks in short videos. The tool is particularly suitable for promoting asynchronous learning, as students can work independently of each other. The functions of Flipgrid are as follows:
- Create video responses to questions or topics posed
- Possibility for comments and reactions from classmates
- Privacy settings that ensure the security of the videos
- Digital lesson planning
Flipgrid can be used to give students space to share their opinions and thoughts in video form. Teachers could, for example, pose a discussion question for the students to answer. The videos can then serve as the basis for a more in-depth discussion in class.
Quizlet: Vocabulary and flashcards for all subjects
Quizlet is a platform for digital flashcards that is ideal for practicing and revising technical terms and definitions. Students can choose from existing cards or create their own and go through them in different exercise formats, such as multiple choice, "write it down" or matching games. Quizlet has several functions:
- Create and share sets of flashcards
- Different learning modes (e.g. matching, multiple choice, writing)
- Access to many public flashcards for different topics
Quizlet is an excellent tool for learning vocabulary and technical terms. Teachers can create sets of flashcards on various topics and make them available to their students. They can then practise and prepare specifically for exams or tests.
Online Whiteboards: All-In-One Solution for Digital Teaching
Online whiteboards encourage active student participation and create space for collaborative learning - ideal for education. Unlike in traditional video conferences, participants have the opportunity to interact directly on the whiteboard, record ideas and develop projects together.
The ease of use and access from all devices (laptops, tablets, smartphones) make online whiteboards particularly practical. Students do not need any special technical equipment to participate in the content. Thanks to the intuitive user interface, it is quickly ready for use without the need for long training periods.
Online whiteboards open up a wide range of opportunities to make lessons more interactive and creative and to promote learning processes. Here are some ways in which you can use a tool like Collaboard to enrich your lessons:
- Create mind maps together: Students and teachers can create mind maps together in real time. Texts, images, documents and videos can be easily inserted and linked together. This method is particularly suitable for presenting complex topics in a clear and structured way.
- Visual presentations: Use the whiteboard as a flexible presentation surface. Collaboard allows you to upload images, documents and videos that can be integrated into the lesson. The "Follow-me" function ensures that all participants follow your presentation steps, which provides more structure, especially in virtual classrooms.
- Drawing and sketching with digital pens: If you use a device with a digital pen, you can draw on the whiteboard, e.g. formulas, diagrams or coordinate systems. This function is particularly suitable for subjects such as mathematics or physics, where visual explanations are very helpful.
- Interactive group work: Group work becomes more goal-oriented thanks to the collaboration options of an online whiteboard. Everyone can independently add content or make notes without disrupting the flow of work. This results in productive and creative learning processes.
- Integration of media: Online whiteboards such as Collaboard allow the insertion and management of various media formats directly on the board. The combination of text, images and videos makes lessons more vivid and supports different types of learners.
Collaboard: Online Whiteboard for Collaboration and Presentation
Collaboard offers a comprehensive platform to make lessons interactive and flexible. With features such as real-time collaboration, secure hosting options and the integration of numerous media formats, Collaboard helps teachers and students to convey learning content in a clear and understandable way.
The option of hosting the whiteboard on-premises or in a private cloud ensures compliance with the highest data protection standards - an advantage for educational establishments and institutions that value security. Collaboard also offers special conditions for teachers and educational institutions. Get a discounted license and take the opportunity to test Collaboard free of charge for 14 days.
Digital Tools for Teaching - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What are digital learning tools?
Digital learning tools are software and tools that support the learning process, for example through interactive content, communication tools or the organization of learning materials. They promote targeted lesson design and facilitate collaboration between teachers and learners.
What do I need for online lessons?
A stable internet connection, suitable hardware (e.g. laptop or tablet) and digital tools such as an online whiteboard or video conferencing software are required for online teaching. Additional software for communication and collaborative work on documents also facilitates learning.
What digital media are available in the classroom?
Digital media such as videos, interactive learning apps, presentations and online whiteboards can be used in lessons. These media create a varied and interactive learning environment that motivates pupils.
What are digital communication tools?
Digital communication tools enable exchange between teachers and students, often in real time. Examples include video conferencing programs, chat tools and forums that are used for queries and discussions.
What is an online whiteboard?
An online whiteboard is a digital board on which participants can draw, write and share content in real time. It is particularly suitable for group tasks and visual presentations in digital lessons.
Ist Collaboard kostenlos?
Collaboard offers a 14-day free trial period. After that, there are discounted licenses for educational institutions and teachers. There is also a free version of Collaboard with limited but varied functions.
Can I use Collaboard without Internet access?
Yes, Collaboard can also be used offline if it is installed in an isolated environment on an in-house server. This function is particularly useful for institutions with strict data protection guidelines.
What security standards does Collaboard meet?
Collaboard relies on multi-level encryption and offers GDPR-compliant security solutions. It supports single sign-on and authorization management so that access and data remain protected.
