AN EDUCATIONAL CUP OF TEA

Apple released a new app: Freeform. The looks of it are infinite whiteboard in nature with a collaborative feature (great for brainstorming). I played around with it to see where it stacked up with two other whiteboard apps: Jamboard and FigJam. I did look at all these apps on my iPad Pro using my Apple Pencil. Many of the things I observe should be similar on any touchscreen device. In this post, I will share my initial observations.

The tasks I completed within each app:

• Upload an image
• Draw
• Add note
• Type text
• Share link
• Add “stickers”

Freeform

I really enjoyed being in Freeform. It is easy to navigate and includes the same features as other iOS applications (Pages, Keynote, etc.), so for anyone familiar with these apps the learning curve is not steep. I also enjoy the idea of an infinite whiteboard – all the room for endless ideas.

One of my favorite features is the search for shapes! That is how I found the snowflakes. You can adjust the color and size. I hope eventually the ability to change the fill of these shapes with images or patterns will happen just like in the other apps. Additionally, when writing in Freeform, I was able to use the crayon which adds a bit of personality over a regular pen or pencil. (That seems minor, but it makes me happy.) Adding links is a game changer. If using Freeform for brainstorming, throwing a link in as a resource or collection of resources allows collaborators to stay within the app and reference later. In addition to links, being able to add photos and videos inspires a mind map where collaborators can connect videos of them sharing their ideas!

Sharing was also easy. However, there is no way to export the Freeform file as an image which I wanted to do. The quick way was to take a screenshot, but any part of the infinite whiteboard that went beyond the screen could not be captured in one image. Not really a problem but something to note. In the end, Freeform would be handy for mind maps, sketchnotes, and other ways to visualize learning. It is a great new addition for iOS and iPadOS.

Jamboard

I’ll be honest. Jamboard is one of my favorite platforms. It is a great go-to for quick collaboration with a variety of ways for people to interact. Also considered a digital whiteboard, Jamboards look similar to Slides. You can change the backgrounds and add extra blank whiteboards for more ideas. There are so many great ways to use Jamboard that TCEA curated over 1,000 templates you can access and use.

This is an app as well as a web-based tool. However, each option has capabilities that the other does not. For example, stickers are available in the Jamboard app while the text option is only accessible through the web-based version. In order to use all the same features found in Freeform, I went back and forth between the app and web versions. The app does everything except add text. Additionally, neither version allow you to add links. Furthermore, the web version of Jamboard does not include the ability to insert files from Drive (which is the closest to adding a link I could find).

Jamboard is a great tool. It does what it needs for brainstorming or reflecting on learning or whatever else you want it to do. However, in comparison to features aligning with Freeform, Freeform wins out.

FigJam

 

FigJam is still relatively new. Its potential in education is incredible. Also a digital whiteboard, FigJam has been described as Jamboard 2.0. I can see why. FigJam allows you to do all the things in Jamboard and then a little more. For example, it allows for links and videos like Freeform.

Like Freeform, FigJam has connectors in order to bring shapes, notes, and other things together. FigJam also has sections and templates. Sections and templates are the features I appreciate the most in FigJam. In an infinite whiteboard, it can get confusing where ideas started and the direction they went. Sections can help collaborators group ideas or separate stages in a process. Templates turn a FigJam into reflection activities or support note-taking in the platform.

There was only one thing I couldn’t do in FigJam that I could do in Freeform. I couldn’t add snowflakes. Now, I could have saved images of snowflakes and uploaded them, but I was trying to stay within the app and only use native features. There are a variety of other stickers available, so this is not the worst problem for an app to have.

FigJam and Freeform are a bit more evenly matched, but I think sections and templates give FigJam a slight edge.

I do believe Freeform is an excellent addition to the digital whiteboard scene. If you haven’t updated to iOS or iPadOS 16.2, do so and start having fun!

Today’s tea: Deck the Halls from Adagio Teas Christmas line.