Excalidraw, a collaborative tool to draw and sketch
Digital whiteboardsGroup/pair work - classmatesIndividual workTeacherStudentYou SupplyWebsite/other users supply
Description: Excalidraw is a tool for creating diagrams and sketches to visually communicate ideas. Users can draw shapes, lines, and text to create diagrams on its interface. It supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work together on the same canvas simultaneously. Excalidraw is free and open-source, available on GitHub. Excalidraw does not require signing up or having an account for use. It was developed by Vjeux (Christopher Chedeau) and a team of contributors.
Evaluation: Excalidraw is a great tool to use in class as a virtual whiteboard. With its different functionalities, it can be used by anyone needing to create visual representations of ideas, concepts, or processes. It serves various purposes such as brainstorming, prototyping, or simply sketching. It does not specifically focus on linguistic skills but rather on visual communication.
Cost: Free without registration + paid plans available.
Type Of Interaction:
Group/pair work - classmates,
Individual work,
Content:
Website/other users supply,
You supply,
Usability and tech notes ▼
Time efficiency 
Time needed to learn how to use a tool and its time-saving potential: High.
Interface language(s) The number of languages in which the tool is currently available/adaptable to: Dozens of languages, among which Norwegian, Occitan, Swedish, Kabylian, Arabic, Punjabi, or Indonesian.
Respect for privacy Privacy evaluations indicate how a tool handles personal data collection, storage, and sharing, including GDPR compliance and security measures, among others. The ICT-REV team provides them for informational purposes, reflecting our best understanding at the time of review, but assumes no legal responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of these evaluations and encourages users to conduct their own assessments: Medium. Excalidraw collects personal data and shares it with third parties, including for different purposes, including advertising. However, users can opt out of targeted advertising cookies. Excalidraw’s highlight user consent as the basis for operating user data. It also outlines different security measures in place. It seemingly complies with the GDPR since it mentions observing EU’s privacy laws, but this is not explicitly stated. See more here.
Saving work for future use Can work be saved for future use?: Yes. Users can save and export data from Excalidraw.
Any other relevant information:
- Installation required?: No, it is a browser-based tool.
- Compatibility/ Operating System: Any browser.