An interactive whiteboard is an instructional tool consisting of a large interactive display in the form factor of a whiteboard. The whiteboard can be a standalone touchscreen computer used independently to perform tasks and operations, or a connectable apparatus used as a touchpad to control computers from a projector.
The instructor can manipulate the elements on the board by using his finger as a mouse, directly on the screen. Items can be dragged, clicked and copied and the instructor can make handwritten notes, which can be transformed into text and saved.
The hardware is used in many environments, including classrooms at all levels of education. Interactive whiteboards let teachers draw on the screen from the front of the room and save their lessons. They offer the opportunity to teach differently while using current teaching tools.
They are a powerful tool in the classroom adding interactivity and collaboration, allowing the integration of media content into the lecture and supporting collaborative learning. Used inventively they create a wide range of learning opportunities.
This software combines the simplicity of traditional teaching tools with the benefits that the ICTs in education bring. It runs on an interactive screen (tablet, Tablet PC) on any type of interactive whiteboard or simply on a personal computer to prepare presentations.
Here’s our verdict on the best free and open source interactive whiteboard tools.
Let’s explore the 9 tools. For each application we have compiled its own portal page, a full description with an in-depth analysis of its features, together with links to relevant resources.
| Interactive Whiteboards | |
|---|---|
| Excalidraw | Virtual whiteboard for sketching hand-drawn like diagrams |
| OpenBoard | Interactive whiteboard for schools and universities |
| Xournal++ | Handwriting notetaking software with PDF annotation support |
| WBO | Online collaborative whiteboard that is easy to use |
| Lorien | Infinite canvas drawing/note-taking app focused on simplicity |
| Xournal | Notetaking, sketching, keeping a journal using a stylus |
| python-whiteboard | Build and operate a low-cost electronic whiteboard |
| Drawy | Work-in-progress infinite whiteboard tool |
| Mando | Human computer interface using a camera and a projector |
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This is a great list of open source and free interactive whiteboard software for linux.