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BigBlueButton provides two primary tools for real-time collaboration: the multi-user whiteboard and shared notes.

Multi-User Whiteboard

Enable the multi-user whiteboard to let all participants draw, annotate, and contribute visually:
  • All participants can draw simultaneously on the presentation slides
  • Use for brainstorming, diagramming, or collaborative problem-solving
  • The presenter can clear annotations or disable multi-user mode at any time
See Use the Multi-User Whiteboard.

Per-User Whiteboard

For individual work that the moderator can review:
  • Each student gets their own whiteboard layer
  • Moderators can view each student’s work individually
  • Great for assessments or individual exercises
See Per-User Whiteboard.

Shared Notes

Shared notes provide a collaborative text editor that all participants can edit simultaneously:
  • Real-time collaborative editing (like Google Docs)
  • Use for meeting minutes, group brainstorming, or collecting responses
  • Content can be exported or moved to the whiteboard
See Use Shared Notes.

Move Shared Notes to the Whiteboard

Transfer shared notes content to the whiteboard for group review and annotation: See Move Shared Notes to the Whiteboard.

Choosing the Right Tool

ActivityBest ToolWhy
Visual brainstormingMulti-user whiteboardDrawing and spatial layout
Collecting text responsesShared notesEasy typing and editing
Group problem solvingMulti-user whiteboardDiagrams and annotations
Meeting minutesShared notesStructured text
Individual assessmentPer-user whiteboardPrivate work visible to moderator