11 Best Virtual Whiteboards for Homeschool Teaching

Virtual whiteboards are transforming homeschooling, making online lessons interactive and engaging. Here's what you need to know:

Virtual whiteboards are digital tools for real-time drawing, writing, and collaboration
They boost learning by allowing students to see and interact with information
These tools work well with platforms like Microsoft Teams, Google Classroom, and Zoom

Top 11 virtual whiteboards for homeschooling:

Quick Comparison:

Whiteboard	Best For	Free Plan	Paid Plan Starts At
Miro	Feature-rich collaboration	3 boards	$8/month
Google Jamboard	Simple, quick use	Unlimited	Free (app only)
Explain Everything	Education-focused	Basic features	$69/year
Microsoft Whiteboard	Microsoft 365 users	No	$6.99/month
Whiteboard.fi	Real-time student monitoring	Yes (with ads)	Not specified

Choose based on your needs, budget, and preferred features. Try free versions before committing to find the best fit for your homeschooling setup.

What Virtual Whiteboards Do

Virtual whiteboards bring the classroom to your living room. They're online tools for drawing, writing, and collaborating in real-time.

Main Features

These digital boards pack a punch:

Drawing tools (pens, shapes, text boxes)
Sticky notes for brainstorming
Real-time editing for teamwork
Infinite canvas (no space limits!)
Ready-to-use templates
Cloud storage

Many play nice with Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom.

Boosting Homeschool Teaching

Virtual whiteboards make learning hands-on:

Visual learning: Sketch out tricky concepts
Team projects: Kids collaborate from anywhere
Instant feedback: See and comment on work right away
Review later: Save lessons for future study
Spice it up: Add videos and images to lessons

Homeschooling in Action

Here's how homeschoolers put these tools to work:

1. Math magic

Teachers break down problems step-by-step. Kids solve on their own boards.

2. Language games

Play digital pictionary or label items in a new language.

3. Science simplified

Create and label diagrams of cells, the water cycle, or other concepts.

4. History comes alive

Build interactive timelines with images and text.

5. Literature explored

Map out characters, themes, and plot points for deeper discussions.

Virtual whiteboards turn boring lessons into engaging experiences. They keep kids focused and make homeschooling more fun and effective.

How to Choose a Virtual Whiteboard

Picking the right virtual whiteboard for homeschooling can make or break your online teaching. Here's what to look for:

Is It Easy to Use?

A good whiteboard should be simple for parents and kids. Look for:

Clear controls
Easy-to-find tools
Quick setup

Test it out before you buy. Many tools offer free trials, so give them a spin.

Can People Work Together?

Teamwork matters in homeschooling. Choose a whiteboard that allows:

Real-time collaboration
Multiple users at once
Offline work options

Miro, for example, lets teams work together in real-time and has features like sticky notes and voting tools.

Does It Play Nice with Other Tools?

Consider how the whiteboard fits into your setup:

Factor	What to Check
Compatibility	Works with your video call platform
Integration	Connects with learning systems
Storage	Syncs with your cloud services
Price	Fits your budget (free options exist)

Google Jamboard is free for Google account holders, making it a solid choice for many families.

Can You Tweak It?

Flexibility is key for different subjects. Look for:

Customizable templates
Various drawing tools
Options to import different content

Conceptboard, for instance, works with cloud storage and includes video calls, giving you a flexible platform for different teaching needs.

11 Best Virtual Whiteboards for Homeschool Teaching

Let's dive into the top virtual whiteboards for homeschooling:

1. Google Jamboard

Free and user-friendly, but shutting down by end of 2024.

Works with other Google tools
Save boards, export as images or PDFs
Multiple whiteboards per session

2. Miro

Full-featured with a large user base.

2,500+ board templates
Real-time collaboration
Integrates with Slack, Trello, etc.

Plan	Price	Boards
Free	$0	3
Paid	$8/mo	Unlimited

3. Explain Everything

Made for teachers:

Education templates
Lesson recording
Two-way student collaboration

4. Microsoft Whiteboard

Part of Microsoft 365:

Integrates with Microsoft apps
Interactive lessons
Starts at $6.99/month

5. Limnu

Simple interface for online tutoring:

Free plan: 14-day board access
Pro plan: $5/month
Great for one-on-one teaching

6. Zoom Whiteboard

Built into Zoom:

Basic: 3 boards
Advanced: $24.80/user/year
Enhances live visual explanations

7. Conceptboard

Team collaboration focus:

Cloud storage integration
Video call features
Good for group projects

8. Stormboard

Ideal for brainstorming:

Free for up to 5 people
Business: $8.33/month
Helps organize ideas

9. Ziteboard

Real-time collaboration:

Sticky notes and board chat
Great for group discussions
Free plan has limits

10. Aww App

Quick setup:

No registration needed
Real-time collaboration
Perfect for impromptu sessions

11. Whiteboard.fi

Individual student whiteboards:

Teacher sees all work in real-time
Join via link or QR code
Free plan with some ads

Choose based on your needs: quick sessions vs. long-term projects. Test a few to find your perfect fit.

Comparing the Whiteboards

Let's see how these virtual whiteboards stack up:

Feature Comparison

Whiteboard	Templates	Collaboration	Integrations	Drawing Tools
Miro	2,500+	Real-time	100+ apps	Advanced
Google Jamboard	Limited	Real-time	Google apps	Basic
Zoom Whiteboard	Basic	In-call	Zoom	Basic
Explain Everything	Education-focused	Two-way	LMS	Advanced
Microsoft Whiteboard	Basic	Real-time	Microsoft 365	Intermediate
Stormboard	Multiple boards	Up to 5 users (free)	Limited	Basic
Ziteboard	Basic	Real-time	Audio/Video	Intermediate

Price Comparison

Whiteboard	Free Plan	Paid Plan Starting Price
Miro	Yes (3 boards)	$8/user/month
Google Jamboard	Yes	$0 (app only)
Zoom Whiteboard	Yes (3 boards)	$24.80/user/year
Explain Everything	Yes (basic)	$69/user/year
Microsoft Whiteboard	No	$6.99/month
Stormboard	Yes (5 users)	$8.33/month
Ziteboard	Yes (3 boards)	Not specified

Device Compatibility

Miro: Web, iOS, Android
Google Jamboard: Web, iOS, Android, dedicated hardware
Zoom Whiteboard: Zoom app (desktop, mobile)
Explain Everything: Web, iOS, Android
Microsoft Whiteboard: Windows, iOS, Android, web
Stormboard: Web, iOS, Android
Ziteboard: Web, iOS, Android

Picking the right virtual whiteboard for homeschooling? Think about what you need.

Use Google apps? Jamboard might be your thing. Want tons of features and templates? Miro could be the way to go. Teaching math? Whiteboard Fi gives each student their own board.

Here's a tip: Try the free versions before you buy. It's the best way to see what works for you.

Tips for Using Virtual Whiteboards in Homeschooling

Getting Started

Pick a virtual whiteboard that works for you. Try out free versions of Miro, Google Jamboard, or Explain Everything before you decide.

Set up a spot for online learning. Keep school stuff close by.

Get your whiteboard ready before class. Split it into sections or slides. It'll save time and keep things moving.

Get to know the basics. Learn how to draw, add text, and share. It'll make teaching easier.

Keeping Students Interested

Mix it up. Use videos, pictures, and sound. Show HD planet pics in a space lesson.

Let kids join in. They can answer questions or share ideas right on the board.

Make it fun. Use polls, quizzes, or group drawing to keep kids active.

Give choices. Some kids might like reading outside and watching videos inside.

Using Whiteboards for Different Subjects

Subject	Whiteboard Ideas
Math	Solve problems together, use shapes for geometry
Science	Make diagrams, label cell parts
History	Create timelines, mark up maps
Language Arts	Brainstorm stories, break down text
Art	Show drawing tricks, look at student work

For all subjects:

Use colors to highlight important stuff
Save lessons for later
Try visual notes like mind maps

Solving Common Problems

Virtual whiteboards can be great for homeschooling, but they're not perfect. Let's tackle some common issues.

Fixing Tech Issues

Tech problems? No sweat. Try these quick fixes:

Sound issues? Check your mic and speakers. Unplug and replug headphones.
Can't see the whiteboard? Refresh the video panel, not the whole page.
Whiteboard not loading? Use the top-left arrows to refresh.
Browser acting up? Try a different one or go incognito.

For bigger problems, contact tech support. Many platforms offer 24/7 help.

Helping Students Stay Focused

Keeping kids on task online can be tricky. Here's what you can do:

Use RescueTime to track site usage.
Try Forest app to make focusing fun.
Set up Screen Time (iOS) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) to monitor device use.

"Success begets success. Consider focusing your feedback around your child's effort, rather than the outcome of their work." - Betsy Smith, author

Managing Screen Time

Online learning means more screen time. Here's how to keep it in check:

Age Group	Daily Screen Time (excluding school)
Under 2	0 hours (except video chats)
2-5	1 hour max
5-17	2 hours max

Tips:

Create a screen time plan with your kids.
Focus on content quality, not just time.
Take breaks to stretch and rest eyes.
No screens 30-60 minutes before bed.

"While that might seem like a lot of screen time, it isn't mindless scrolling through the deep-sea Internet while staring at the computer." - Alyssa, parent

What's Next for Virtual Whiteboards in Homeschooling

Virtual whiteboards are set to transform homeschooling. By 2030, the interactive whiteboard market could hit $6.3 billion, growing 7.6% yearly. Here's what's coming:

AI-Powered Features

AI will shake things up:

Real-time translation for global homeschool groups
Smart progress tracking for parents
Personalized learning for each student

Zoom's already on it. Their AI Companion helps with brainstorming, making it easier to:

Kick off projects
Group ideas
Dig deeper into topics

Future AI might even:

Give live feedback on presentations
Sum up lessons
Turn whiteboard scribbles into images

Tackling Homeschool Challenges

Virtual whiteboards are evolving to solve homeschool-specific issues:

Problem	Solution
Bored students	Game-like features
Progress tracking	AI assessment tools
Subject juggling	Smart content sorting
Homeschooler isolation	Built-in teamwork tools

The endgame? Making homeschooling a breeze for parents and kids alike.

Wrap-Up

Virtual whiteboards are changing the game for homeschool teaching. They bring the classroom home, making online lessons interactive and fun.

Why try them?

They boost learning. Kids see and interact with info, which helps it stick.
They enable teamwork. Students can collaborate on projects in real-time.
They're versatile. Use them for any subject, from math to art.
They save money. No need for physical supplies.

Want to start? Here are free options from top tools:

Tool	Free Offer	Best For
Miro	3 editable boards	Task management
Google Jamboard	Unlimited boards	Simple, quick use
Whiteboard.fi	Individual student boards	Real-time monitoring

These tools can make your homeschool lessons more engaging and effective. Give them a try and see the difference they can make in your teaching.

11 Best Virtual Whiteboards for Homeschool Teaching