Sadly, Google has announced that they are discontinuing Jamboard. At first Google announced they would delete your Jams, but backtracked saying the Jams will be converted to PDF’s. Obviously PDF’s do not have the interactivity of Jams. The good news is that FigJam is better. The better news is that Figma has a free converter for Jamboard files to FigJam. Officially the converter tool will be available Monday November 20th.

Convert Your Jamboard Jams to FigJam

Join me and Lauren (McCann) Ryan on Tuesday November 21st at 4pm Pacific to answer all your questions about converting your Jams to FigJam.

What is FigJam?

FigJam is a collaborative whiteboard that allows students to work together on projects in real time. It is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Classroom interaction
• Dynamically sharing resources
• Student assignments
• Brainstorming and idea generation
• Planning and organizing projects
• Creating presentations and diagrams
• Designing prototypes and user interfaces

FigJam is a powerful tool that can help students learn and collaborate more effectively. It is also a fun and engaging tool that students will enjoy using.

Playlist of Getting Started with FigJam

I am working on creating some short videos to show you key features of FigJam that will help you get started with this exciting tool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries

Verify Your Educator Account

FigJam is FREE!! As an educator you get a full account at no cost once you are verified as an educator.

Figma

FigJam is a product of Figma. Go to figma.com to find your FigJams.

Get Started Templates

Figma for Education has get started templates at figma.com/@education. Here are a few that you might be excited to start with!

Converted Jams to FigJam

I have had early access to the converter tool and I can tell you that it is FABULOUS!! You can find many of my converted Jams to FigJam on my Figma profile page: figma.com/@alicekeeler.

Simply log into figma.com and use the “Import” button. You will be able to choose to import Jamboard Jams from your Google Drive, and you can do more than one at a time. Your locked backgrounds will be locked. Your sticky notes are editable and draggable. Your draggable elements are still draggable. Each frame is added as a section.

Note: the only feature that does not translate well to FigJam is “scratchers.” When you erase pen strokes in FigJam the entire pen stroke is erased at once. Scratchers will still work in FigJam, but you lose the “scratch” or slow reveal.

FigJam does allow you to hide objects behind other objects. Anything in FigJam can be locked (Control Shift L). Place an object on the canvas and place a sticky note or other image/shape over it. Lock the top object. If you used pen strokes in your Jam to hide objects I would recommend erasing the pen strokes and using a shape to hide objects.

What is Similar to Jamboard?

FigJam is similar to Jamboard in many ways. Both tools are collaborative whiteboards that can be used for a variety of purposes. They both have a variety of features that make them easy to use, including a variety of drawing tools, sticky notes, and text boxes.

What is Different About FigJam?

FigJam has a number of features that are not available in Jamboard. These features include:

• A more powerful set of drawing tools
• The ability to embed images and videos
• The ability to create and use reusable templates
• The ability to integrate with other Figma products
• The ability to use FigJam on a variety of devices
• An updated version history and revert feature that makes it easier to track changes and undo mistakes

How Can FigJam Be Used with Students?

FigJam can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. Here are just a few examples:

Classroom Interaction

FigJam is collaborative. Share the link with students and allow them to add sticky notes and share their ideas and work during the lesson.

Dynamically Sharing Resources

While any collaborative file can be used to dynamically share resources during class, FigJam has some features that might make it your favorite tool.

• Hide sections with resources until you are ready to reveal them.
• Ability to lock elements.
• Ease of adding new resources, including “embedding” by simply pasting a link to a YouTube video or Google Docs/Slides.
• Go beyond listing a link by creating a section with explanations and multi-media.

Student Assignments

If you used Jamboard for assignments you can use FigJam in the same way. FigJam is an open canvas with unlimited possibilities. I recommend you click on the Share button and select “Publish” to create a template that can be shared with students to make a copy. You can also modify the URL of your files to end in /duplicate which will automatically create a copy for each student.

Brainstorming and Idea Generation:

Use FigJam with the whole class or in small groups to brainstorm ideas for a writing assignment, a science project, or a class discussion.

figjam.new starts a new file quickly. Click the share button to paste email addresses for quick access.

Planning and Organizing Projects:

Use FigJam to create a project plan, a timeline, or a mind map. The shapes and connector tools make FigJam the perfect choice.

Taking Notes and Summarizing Information:

Use FigJam to take notes during a lecture, a video, or a class discussion.

Creating Presentations and Diagrams:

Use FigJam to create a presentation for a project or a diagram to explain a concept.

FigJam for Education

FigJam is a powerful and versatile tool that can be used in a variety of ways to help students learn and collaborate. It is a more powerful and feature-rich tool than Jamboard, and it is available on a variety of devices. If you are looking for a new digital whiteboard to use with your students, I encourage you to give FigJam a try.

Additional Resources