OpenBoard: The free (and open source) digital whiteboard that makes lessons more accessible and inclusive.

Redazione ForAllWe
7 hours ago
3 min read

The whiteboard is no longer just "IWB or nothing." Today, there are free and powerful alternatives for creating visual, participatory, and truly accessible lessons. OpenBoard is one of these: an interactive whiteboard software designed for schools and universities, free , open source , and available on Windows, macOS, and Linux .

If you're looking for a tool to better explain, simplify content, work with images, and build reusable materials (without subscriptions), OpenBoard is a great place to start.

Cover design with the word “OpenBoard” in the center, in blue and orange, surrounded by educational icons (tablet with book, pencil, speech bubble, sheet of paper with “LPD”, globe, pointer, light bulb, notebook with pen, magnifying glass) on a light gradient background.

What is OpenBoard

OpenBoard is an app that turns your PC into a digital whiteboard : write with a mouse, graphics tablet, or pen on a touch screen, insert images and PDFs, highlight, record the lesson, and save everything for later.

The advantage? You don't need a "branded" IWB: it can work with a projector or screen and a pointing device.

Why it can help inclusion at school

When we talk about inclusion, we often need something very concrete: making information clearer, more visual, and more scalable .

With OpenBoard you can:

Simplify : highlight, isolate pieces of text, direct the eye.
Support different styles : oral explanation + images + on-screen examples.
Reduce cognitive load : one page at a time, with “visual” steps.
Encourage participation : students at the board, collaborative activities, shared corrections.
Create reusable materials : export them as PDFs and send them home.

The “key” functions to know

1) Import PDF and write on it

Do you have a card, a text, a test? Import the PDF and use it as a base: annotate, highlight, add notes, make corrections live.

2) Desktop Mode: Write down anything

You can switch to desktop mode and write over any content (browser, maps, images, videos, online exercises). It's very useful for explaining without switching tools.

3) Record the lesson (screencast)

If you want to leave a trace (for absences, revision, recovery or flipped teaching), OpenBoard includes a screen recording function .

4) Integrated library: everything at your fingertips

Images, audio, video and resources can be managed in a side library with drag & drop : less chaos, more continuity during the explanation.

5) Integrated browser and “widgets”

There's also a built-in browser and the ability to add widgets (small interactive apps/objects) for quick tasks and micro-exercises.

6) Double screen: prepare without showing everything

If you use a dual screen/projector setup, you can manage what you see and what the class sees (useful for preparing the next step without “spoilers”).

Wacom interactive display with a stylus placed in front; the screen shows OpenBoard, a digital whiteboard with a handwritten note describing it as an “interactive whiteboard for schools and universities. — ‘’Screenshot, © openboard.ch‘’

Mini guide: get started in 15 minutes (stress-free)

Install OpenBoard from the official website (link at the bottom).
Open the program and create a New Document (a “lesson” made up of pages).
Import a PDF (e.g. reading sheet) and try:
- highlight keywords
- circle elements
- add short notes on the side
Switch to Desktop Mode and try:
- open a web page or image
- note above to guide attention
Finally export to PDF and share with students (register, classroom, email, etc.).
If you need it, activate the screencast and record the explanation.

5 ideas for inclusive activities with OpenBoard

Guided Reading Comprehension Highlight only one sentence at a time, then add “margin” questions (who? what? when? why?).
Quick Visual Maps Start with images/icons, then add keywords: useful for those who struggle with long texts.
Step-by-step math. Import exercises and solve them progressively. Also great for common mistakes: highlight them and turn them into visual "rules."
Languages: Vocabulary and Images : Insert images and match words/definitions. Little games (drag and drop) keep the class engaged.
Accessible Tests Same assignment, but with visual aids: highlight where to start, break down steps, add examples.

Strengths (and limitations you should know)

Pro

free and without subscriptions
cross-platform (Windows/Mac/Linux)
Great for PDFs, annotations, and visual lessons
useful even without a “proprietary” IWB

Against

requires a minimum of initial practice (like all whiteboard tools)
some advanced functions (widgets/integrations) may be "geeky"
on certain configurations (especially Linux / multi-screen) some technical adjustments may be necessary

Conclusion

OpenBoard is a solid choice if you want more visual, flexible, and inclusive teaching without licensing costs. It doesn't "create inclusion" by itself, but it gives you practical tools to better explain, reduce barriers, and make your lessons more accessible to as many students as possible.

If you try it, the advice is simple: start with just one thing (a PDF, a worksheet, a correction) and build your routine from there.

Useful links

OpenBoard official website: https://openboard.ch/index.it.html

Official download: https://openboard.ch/download.it.html

Documentation: https://openboard.ch/documentation.it.html

GitHub project: https://github.com/OpenBoard-org/OpenBoard

This article is not sponsored. The products/projects mentioned are for informational and editorial purposes only.

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