https://anchor.fm/hitechpod/embed/episodes/29--How-to-Make-the-Technology-Disappear--Pt--1--Excalidraw-e18obdn


This Week's App: Excalidraw


What is Excalidraw?

At the HiTech Podcast, we have talked about whiteboard tools before way back in Episode 2 | Digital Whiteboarding & Background, but since then we have found another contender Excalidraw!

Excalidraw is a digital whiteboard tool that allows you to create diagrams that look hand-drawn.

Excalidraw is a digital whiteboard tool that allows you to create diagrams that look hand-drawn. We know we know, you are probably asking, "another whiteboard tool?" Well, we decided to highlight this tool because, since Josh found it a few months ago, it has become a staple whiteboard tool in his life that he likes even better than the previous tools we looked at in episode 2. What is great is that you can use it for FREE.

What can it be used for?

What makes it so good? Well, Excalidraw allows you to, create diagrams with shapes, lines, text, etc. that look actually hand-drawn and bring your students into the board to collaborate just by sending them a link. You can do all of this without needing an account. This feature means it is insanely to get your students using the tool. We have tested it with ages 18-60 and everyone picked it up without a problem Not only is it easy to use, but you also have options for exporting the work you have created as high-resolution images that you can upload to other places.

You see some examples below from Josh's work recently to see what is possible in Excalidraw. Click on each image to enlarge them.

A workflow for course creation

A workflow for course creation

A graphic for an implementation plan

A graphic for an implementation plan

You of course can use this tool for several different things in your own work or courses.

  1. You can have students collaborate on it to start brainstorming or work on group work.
  2. You can use this whiteboard while recording videos or working on zoom to do things you would do on a normal whiteboard. Excalidraw works great with stylus tools.
  3. You can also use it to create quick graphics that can go into PowerPoints, your online courses, and even messages to students.

With Excalidraw the limits are really only your creativity.

How do I get started?

Excalidraw is free so all you have to do to get started is go to excalidraw.com. Going there will automatically open up the free whiteboard and you can start exploring the tools that are available to you.

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