App review by Amanda Bindel, Common Sense Education | Updated August 2014
SyncSpace Shared Whiteboard
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  • Download on Google Play
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  • Download on Amazon

SyncSpace Shared Whiteboard

Limited collaborative whiteboard; more features, flexibility in iOS version

Get it now
  • Download on Google Play
  • Download from App Store
  • Download on Amazon
Learning rating
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Community rating
Based on 3 reviews
Privacy rating
Not yet rated Expert evaluation by Common Sense
Grades
6–12
Subjects & Skills
Communication & Collaboration, Character & SEL, Critical Thinking
Price:  Free, Paid
Platforms:  Android, iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, Kindle Fire
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Take a look inside

7 images
Add typed text or handwriting / drawings.
There's no way to customize font style or size.
Android devices can sync to the Web.
Whiteboards are saved in the gallery.
Collaborate with others via iMessage (iOS only) or email.
Only the iOS version allows users to add websites, images, or maps.
Easily sync with other devices on the same Wi-Fi connection (iOS only).

Pros: Zooming function is unique, and syncing device to computer works well.

Cons: iOS devices can't sync to Android devices, and vice versa; no voice or recording functions.

Bottom Line: Collaborative whiteboard allows kids to work in pairs or small groups. iOS version has more features; Android version allows more free whiteboards.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Without sound or recording functions, SyncSpace is not the best option for flipped learning. It is useful for pairs or small group projects, however. Teachers could also use whiteboards to work one-on-one with students in remote tutoring sessions, and students could plan projects or study together remotely. The iOS version, with its ability to add maps, images, and websites, is much more versatile, however, so teachers can use it more easily for specific projects or content.

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Standards:

SyncSpace Shared Whiteboard is the Android version of the iOS collaborative whiteboard, SyncSpace Free: Collaborative Zoomable Canvas. Teachers or students can create whiteboards, add text or drawings, and then share the whiteboard by email or sync the documents to share with other tablets or computers. The sync link can be emailed to collaborators, and a password can be added for security. The iOS version, however, includes several features not offered on the Android version, starting with a tutorial screen that explains each control, and the option to enable palm rejection for the right hand or left hand. The iOS version also allows users to add websites, images, or maps, and it can easily find drawings on other iOS devices using the same Wi-Fi connection, making collaboration much easier. With both versions, collaborators can add text or drawings to documents in real time (or with a slight connection delay) on a compatible tablet or over the Internet.

While the iOS version offers more features, it allows only three free whiteboards; it costs $9.99 to add more. The Android version includes unlimited free whiteboards. The unlimited zoom, which allows users to add images, websites, or maps -- and is most helpful on the iOS version -- seems to be the defining feature.

Unlike other collaborative whiteboards, SyncSpace provides no way to record a session, nor is it possible to add voice -- or even to talk or text while collaborating. Syncing with others is remarkably easy -- by simply emailing or texting a Web link to the board. Only the iOS version allows users to connect via a Wi-Fi search, but users on different devices can connect over the Internet, accessing the whiteboard through the Web link rather than through the device. 

Overall Rating
Engagement

With no options to add voice or talking, communication is limited to writing on the whiteboard, which limits engagement and options for using the tool. 

Pedagogy

SyncSpace lets kids learn cooperatively by working together on a shared whiteboard. Students are empowered to add their own ideas and see others' ideas, encouraging brainstorming.

Support

Besides a sample whiteboard showing the controls (in the iOS version only), there's no help or tutorials available. Whiteboards are automatically saved in the gallery, but the free iOS version limits saved boards to three.

Common Sense reviewer
Amanda Bindel Classroom teacher
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Key Standards Supported

Speaking & Listening

  • SL.6.5

    Include multimedia components (e.g., graphics, images, music, sound) and visual displays in presentations to clarify information.

  • SL.7.5

    Include multimedia components and visual displays in presentations to clarify claims and findings and emphasize salient points.

  • SL.8.5

    Integrate multimedia and visual displays into presentations to clarify information, strengthen claims and evidence, and add interest.

  • SL.9-10.5

    Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

  • SL.11-12.5

    Make strategic use of digital media (e.g., textual, graphical, audio, visual, and interactive elements) in presentations to enhance understanding of findings, reasoning, and evidence and to add interest.

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Community Rating

(See all 3 reviews) (3 reviews) Write a review
Featured review by
Jeremy B. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
Thomas M. Ryan Intermediate School
Richland, United States
This is a zoomable and sharable whiteboard app for presentations or teaching.
I have used a variety of these whiteboard apps. This one is not any better than others. The free version only allows 3 boards to be used at a time, while the $9.99 version is unlimited. Options are limited on what you can do as well. I use PDF format a lot and this app did not allow me to upload that as my background (some other whiteboard tools do). It was easy to use, but felt laggy in the display. A weird thing also happened. When I tapped "undo" the line that was to be cleared off would delete from ...
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