A whiteboard, usually tied to a chat room, provides tools for drawing and diagramming that are editable by multiple participants.

Pros

• drawing features can aid in communicating abstract ideas and relationships
• multiple participants can edit shared drawings

Cons

• participants all have to be at their computers at the same time to participate
• scheduling may be difficult
• participants can overwrite each other's drawings

Notes
Consider establishing rules and regulations, e.g., use different colors for each participant. Whiteboards enable instructors and students to look at, annotate, and alter a common visual source. When the course involves use of software new to the students, such as AutoCAD, SAS, Scientific Notebook, or a Web Editor, it is helpful to be able to exchange files and screen shots with students.

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