Organization and time management are critical competencies amid the increasingly complex and busy environment. Regardless of whether you are doing your own business or a collaborative project, having the right equipment can have a significant impact. Of all the tools that educators can use in their classroom, there is one that not only has functionalities, but is also easy to use – the white board.
Introduced as dry-erase boards, whiteboards allow the users to have wide and changing spaces for idea generation and development. While using some digital tools could make a user feel confined, you can write and draw in any manner you want using a white board.
Now, let’s discuss how you can use this particular tool for improving your productivity and planning.
Why Use a Whiteboard for Planning?
Whiteboards make it possible to share new ideas easily since it offers a clear surface during a brainstorming session. Unlike the computer tools where they reduce the extent of the idea you want to put down, the virtual whiteboard is a tangible tool which can be manipulated in any way that you want. If you are a writer trying to plot out characters, relationships, and events in a novel, or a team leader drawing up a project plan, it is valuable to be able to take notes, scribble diagrams, and erase/rewrite—to achieve a clear visualization of ideas.
Storing Ideas on the Whiteboard
Another one of the main benefits of using a whiteboard while planning is the fact that it enables the splitting of large tasks into subtasks. One typical way might be that you write down a core idea or aim and then use additional branches for subtopics or measures. For example, if you’re planning an article, you can divide the board into sections: headings such as introduction, main ideas, and conclusion. This way, you will be able to have a bird’s eye view of your work in order to check if your flow chart is capable of revealing flaws in your outline such as gaps or items that do not need to be included in the final draft.
The Writing Process
Writers will find that utilizing whiteboards can be of tremendous value for them during the writing and editing process. First, put down the major headings, and then create sub-points or branching diagrams for more detailed points about that subject. This is possible with the flexibility of the whiteboard since the points can be rearranged and restructured in a way that forms a logical sequence of writing. Further, using different colors for ideas or different sections of the work may help in classification of the material as well as in identification of certain aspects of the work.
Enhancing Collaboration with Whiteboards
Whiteboards are not only necessary for individual work but also for group work also. They create a forum for people to bring their ideas out into the open as well as consider the overall perspective in a group. Ideas can be generated in a meeting, improvements can be made during the discussion and an action plan can be formulated on the spot. This helps in the communication of expected performance and make sure all members of the team are aware of them.
The format of whiteboards stimulates creativity and problem-solving because many tasks can be solved visually, which is especially helpful when attempting to solve difficult problems in groups.