Stormboard: Providing an Online Collaborative Space

Stormboard: Providing an Online Collaborative Space

Stormboard is a website that offers users a collaborative, online working space to share ideas. To begin, users must register with Stormboard and confirm their email. At this point, users will log into Stormboard, and the website will load their dashboard. Users then have the option to click the “Create a Storm” button the top left of the screen to launch a new board or click the “Join a Storm” to collaborate on a board another user already created. This description will focus on launching a new board.

After clicking the “Create a Storm” button from their dashboard, a popup window will appear, and users will need to add a name for their board, add up to five users for personal boards (boards with more than five users will have to upgrade their subscription from free  to paid), and decide if they wish to start with a blank board or use a template by clicking the corresponding button on the bottom of the popup window. A new Stormboard will then appear.

To add content to the board, users can click anywhere on it and a sticky note will appear. Users can add text, images, videos, index cards, and files to it. Users can also click the “Whiteboard” option to record their own markings, and other users can be invited to join a “Whiteboard” session. After adding a sticky, users can click the “Comment” icon to add their comments to it, the “Circle” icon to vote if they like the sticky, and the “Check” icon to add a task.

Additional options on the top right of the board include the “Search” button that allows users to find content on the board, the “Chat” button that allows users to message other users who are collaborating on the board, the “Activity” button that tracks users’ contributions to the board, the “Tasks” button that assigns users specific assignments to complete, and the “Trash” button that allows users to restore deleted content to the board.

The options on the bottom of the board include the “Add” button for inserting new content to the board, the “Share” button that produces a link or an invitation so other users may join the board, the “Setup” button that allows additional information that describes the board to be added to it, the “Template” button lets users choose alternative layouts for their board, the “Reports” button offers options for extracting data from the board, and the “Import” option lets users upload spreadsheet data into the board.

Please note: Depending on the subscription type, it will impact the users’ access to the features available on Stormboard.

Instructional Ideas for Stormboard

1. When brainstorming ideas for designing a product, completing a project, or planning process, teachers can have students get in groups of 3-5 members and layout their ideas using this website. One student can launch the board and then invite the other members to join the board. The group will need to select the template that best fits their needs. As they brainstorm, teachers can use the “Activity” button to monitor students.
2. After reading a text, students can use this website to storyboard the text. For example, if reading a play, students can add a sticky to a board for each scene, and the sticky should summarize the scene and or use an image to represent the scene. Students can then use the “Comment” button on stickies with images to add their summary to it. If reading a text that outlines a process, students can add images that represent the step in the process and then click the “Comment” button to explain the step. After completing their board, students can share a link to their board on a class website.
3. Teachers can present students with a topic that can be debated and share a link to a board. Students can then add stickies expressing the side of the debate they support along with commentary that explains their support. After all students have entered their ideas, teachers can use it to facilitate a class discussion.
4. When learning new vocabulary words, teachers can present a word to students and have them all join a board. Students can then add images that represent the word and then comment on the sticky notes to explain how and why their image represents the word.
5. When teaching a math problem, teachers can add practice problems to stickies using the “Whiteboard” option and then have small groups of students join the board, engage the Whiteboard, and solve the problems.

A1. Rigor
A2. 21st Century Skills
A3. Conn. to Future Learning
A4. Value of Errors
A5. Feedback to Teacher
A6. Level of Material
A7. Cooperative Learning
A8. Accom. of Individual Diff.

B1. Ability to Save Progress
B2. Platform Integration
B3. Screen Design
B4. Ease of Use
B5. Navigation
B6. Goal Orientation
B7. Information Presentation
B8. Media Integration
B9. Cultural Sensitivity

C1. Learner Control
C2. Interactivity
C3. Pace
C4. Flexibility
C5. Interest
C6. Aesthetics
C7. Utility

Screenshots of Stormboard