Zoom Guide For Hosts: Enable/Disable Whiteboard

Zoom Guide For Hosts: Enable/Disable Whiteboard

The whiteboard feature in Zoom allows hosts and participants to collaborate visually by drawing, annotating, and brainstorming ideas in real-time. Whether you want to encourage creativity or streamline the meeting experience, knowing how to enable or disable the whiteboard feature is essential. Here’s a detailed guide on managing the whiteboard feature effectively:

1. Understanding the Whiteboard Feature:

The whiteboard feature in Zoom allows users to share a digital canvas where they can draw, annotate, and illustrate ideas during meetings. It’s a powerful tool for visual collaboration and brainstorming sessions.

2. Enabling Whiteboard:
  • Before the Meeting:
    • If you’re scheduling the meeting in advance, you can specify whiteboard settings in the meeting settings.
    • In the meeting settings, locate the ‘Whiteboard’ section and ensure that the option to enable whiteboard sharing is selected.
  • During the Meeting:
    • To enable the whiteboard feature during a meeting, navigate to the meeting controls.
    • Click on the ‘Share Screen’ button.
    • In the screen sharing options, select the whiteboard option.
    • This will allow participants to view and interact with the whiteboard.
3. Disabling Whiteboard:
  • Before the Meeting:
    • In the meeting settings, ensure that the option to enable whiteboard sharing is deselected.
    • This will prevent participants from accessing the whiteboard feature during the meeting.
  • During the Meeting:
    • To disable the whiteboard feature during a meeting, navigate to the meeting controls.
    • Click on the ‘Share Screen’ button.
    • Deselect the whiteboard option from the screen sharing options.
4. Communicating Whiteboard Availability:
  • Inform Participants:
    • Clearly communicate to participants whether the whiteboard feature will be available during the meeting.
    • Provide instructions on how to access and use the whiteboard if it’s enabled.
5. Best Practices for Using Whiteboard:
  • Plan Ahead: Prepare any materials or drawings you want to share on the whiteboard in advance.
  • Engage Participants: Encourage participants to contribute to the whiteboard by drawing or annotating ideas.
  • Moderate Usage: Monitor whiteboard activity during the meeting to ensure it remains focused and productive.
6. Conclusion:

The whiteboard feature in Zoom offers a versatile platform for visual collaboration and idea-sharing during meetings. By understanding how to enable or disable the whiteboard feature and implementing best practices for its usage, hosts can enhance participant engagement and foster creativity in their meetings.

With this guide, hosts are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to manage the whiteboard feature effectively in Zoom meetings, creating a dynamic and interactive meeting experience for all participants.