Blackboard Class – Using Whiteboard

by | Jul 30, 2025 | Blackboard Class

A whiteboard is a tool your instructor may use for class participation, demonstrations, and presentations. Here’s how you can interact with and use a Whiteboard in Blackboard Class!

Opening a Whiteboard

When your instructor opens a whiteboard, it should automatically open as a tab in the presentation area of the page.

On the left side of the screen is the student's camera square with the Learner Resources underneath, showing Files. To the right is the instructor's camera with the Example Whiteboard underneath.

If your instructor has multiple items opens, such as documents or presentations, you can click between them using the title tabs at the top. Click the item with the Whiteboard iconBlackboard Class Whiteboard Iconto open the whiteboard.

Click the titles of the items in the top right of the page to navigate between tabs.

To increase the view space of the whiteboard, click the Collapse icon Blackboard Class Collapse Iconto collapse the instructors camera and expand the whiteboard space.
TIP: You can also do the same for your camera towards the bottom left of the screen!

On the left side of the screen is the student's camera square with the Learner Resources underneath, showing Files. To the right is the Example Whiteboard space.

Interacting With a Whiteboard

If your instructor has enabled permissions, you can create new pages, add PDF files, edit, and contribute content to pages in the whiteboard space.

Editing Tools:

Icons from left to right: zoom in, zoom out, grab, select, add shape, add line, draw, add text, add math equation, Present.

  1. Zoom icons: For zooming in and out on the page.
  2. Hand icon: Allows you to click and drag to move around the page.
  3. Selection icon: Allows you to click and drag on the page to select items to edit. Hold the spacebar to also navigate around the page.
  4. Add shape icon: Click to view different shape options. Click and drag on the page to place the shape.
  5. Add line icon: Click to view different line options. Click and drag on the page to place the line.
  6. Pencil icon: Allows you to click and drag to draw freely on the page.
  7. Text icon: Allows you to click on the page and begin typing to add text.
  8. Math icon: Allows you to add mathematical formulas to the whiteboard. Options will appear in the left-hand menu after clicking.
  9. Present Button: Click to begin presenting your whiteboard.
Left-Hand Navigation

Items listed in the left-hand navigation: Add page, Import PDF to pages, and list of created pages.

  1. To add a page, Click + Add page in the left navigation menu of the whiteboard area.
  2. To import a PDF, Click Import PDF to pages in the left navigation menu of the whiteboard area.
  3. To change to a different page, click the title of the page in the left navigation menu of the whiteboard area.

Present your Board:

If enabled, you can also click the Present button to start a presentation. This will give you control over the board and allow you to share your board if your instructor has assigned group or individual boards.

Click the Present button to begin presenting.

To stop presenting, click the Stop button in the same place.

Click Stop to stop presenting.

 

Additional Resources:

These sources are written with instructors in mind so some things will not look the same or be available, but many of the functions, if enabled, will apply as a Learner as well!

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