In today’s digital age, collaboration and visual communication have become essential skills for students. Teachers are always on the lookout for innovative tools that can foster engagement and learning. Enter FigJam, a versatile online whiteboarding platform by Figma. Originally developed for design and creative work, FigJam’s capabilities extend beyond the realm of art and into the classroom.
To get started with FigJam, teachers can sign up for a free Figma account and explore the platform’s features. They can then create boards for various projects and share the board links with students for collaborative work. FigJam’s user-friendly interface makes it easy for students to add elements, collaborate, and contribute to shared projects. Learn more about how FigJam works with these videos: “FigJam for Teachers Playlist” and “Study Hall: FigJam Whiteboard Basics for Education.”
Try a few of these creative ways to leverage FigJam to enhance collaboration, creativity, and learning in their classrooms.
Virtual Brainstorming Sessions
FigJam offers an interactive canvas where students can brainstorm ideas visually. Teachers can create a collaborative space where students contribute their thoughts, concepts, and visual representations in real time. Whether it’s a science project, storyboarding a play, or solving math problems, FigJam can spark creativity and encourage students to work together.
Concept Mapping
Visualizing connections between concepts can greatly aid understanding. Teachers can use FigJam to create concept maps that help students see how ideas relate to each other. This method is particularly effective for breaking down complex subjects, helping students grasp the bigger picture while studying various components in detail.
Group Projects and Peer Reviews
FigJam can facilitate group projects and peer reviews in a virtual setting. Students can collaborate on a shared board, contributing text, images, and drawings related to their project. This approach encourages accountability, teamwork, and constructive feedback as peers comment on each other’s work directly on the board.
Interactive Learning Module
Turn learning into an interactive experience by creating multimedia-rich modules on FigJam. Teachers can use visuals, text, and links to external resources to engage students. For example, an art history lesson could include images of famous artworks with descriptions and links to more information.
Storytelling and Storyboarding
FigJam can be a fantastic platform for storytelling and storyboarding activities. Whether it’s writing short stories, creating comic strips, or planning video projects, students can organize scenes, dialogue, and images within the FigJam canvas to craft engaging narratives.
As you introduce FigJam into your classroom, remember to provide guidance and best practices for online collaboration. Encourage students to respect each other’s work, offer constructive feedback, and stay organized within the FigJam environment.
