Overview: Whiteboard Sharing Tool

The Whiteboard Sharing Tool is a real-time collaborative whiteboard designed for classroom environments. Its purpose is to facilitate interactive and visual communication among students and educators during lessons, presentations, or group discussions.

Purpose

The tool provides an intuitive platform where multiple users can simultaneously interact with the same digital canvas. It supports drawing, writing, and uploading images, enabling teachers and students to collaborate in real-time. The whiteboard can be integrated into learning management systems (LMS) or used as a standalone web application for dynamic instruction.

Benefits

• Enhanced Collaboration: Enables real-time interaction among participants, fostering active engagement and idea sharing.
• Visual Learning: Supports visual explanations, making complex concepts easier to understand and retain.
• Instant Feedback: Teachers can monitor student contributions in real-time, providing immediate guidance and support.
• Accessibility: Students who may struggle with verbal communication can express their ideas visually, encouraging participation from all learners.
• Persistent Content: Whiteboard content is saved automatically, allowing for review and reference after the session concludes.

Usage Scenarios

The tool is ideal for:

1. Live Lessons: Teachers can use the whiteboard to explain concepts, solve problems, or guide discussions in real-time.
2. Student Contributions: Students can draw, annotate, or upload their work directly onto the whiteboard, allowing for peer collaboration and review.
3. Breakout Groups: Instructors can assign different sections of the whiteboard to breakout groups for focused problem-solving.
4. Asynchronous Learning: Content remains available post-session, enabling students to revisit and study collaboratively created materials at their own pace.

The Whiteboard Sharing Tool is a powerful addition to any classroom environment, fostering creativity, collaboration, and engagement among participants.

## Real-time Collaboration  
This module enables real-time collaborative editing, allowing multiple users to draw, write, or modify content simultaneously on a shared whiteboard interface.

## Drawing & Annotation Tools  
Users can utilize a variety of drawing tools (e.g., pens, highlighters) and annotation features (e.g., text, shapes) to visually explain concepts during virtual classrooms or meetings.

## Undo/Redo Functionality  
The tool provides robust undo and redo capabilities, allowing users to revert changes or explore previous versions of the whiteboard content seamlessly.

## User Authentication & Session Management  
The module supports user authentication to track participants and manage session access, ensuring secure and controlled collaboration in classroom environments.

## Whiteboard History & Export  
A history feature allows users to view past versions of the whiteboard. Additionally, content can be exported as images or PDFs for offline review or documentation purposes.

## Performance Optimization  
The tool is optimized for low latency and high performance, ensuring smooth real-time updates even with multiple users accessing the whiteboard simultaneously.

## Customization & Configuration  
Educators can customize settings such as color schemes, default tools, and access levels to suit specific classroom needs or institutional requirements.

## Integration Capabilities  
The module integrates with existing classroom management systems and video conferencing tools, enabling a seamless experience for teachers and students.

## Whiteboard Canvas Management  
Users can manage multiple whiteboards (or " canvases") within the tool, organize content into layers, and switch between them as needed for better workflow.

## Enhanced Collaboration Features  
The tool supports features like chat integration, screen sharing controls, and collaborative brainstorming modes to foster effective teamwork in virtual classrooms.

Whiteboard Sharing Tool Documentation

Summary

The Whiteboard Sharing Tool is a real-time collaborative whiteboard designed for classroom use. It allows multiple users to interact with and modify the same visual canvas simultaneously.

API Endpoint (Node.js/Express)

const express = require('express');
const { v4: uuidv4 } = require('uuid');
const app = express();
app.use(express.json());

// Mock database for whiteboards
let whiteboards = {};

// Create a new whiteboard
app.post('/api/whiteboard', async (req, res) => {
  const id = uuidv4();
  const newWhiteboard = {
    id,
    title: req.body.title || 'New Whiteboard',
    content: req.body.content || '',
    owner: req.user.id,
    participants: [req.user.id],
    created_at: Date.now()
  };
  whiteboards[id] = newWhiteboard;
  res.status(201).json(newWhiteboard);
});

// Get a specific whiteboard
app.get('/api/whiteboard/:id', async (req, res) => {
  const id = req.params.id;
  if (!Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty.call(whiteboards, id)) {
    return res.status(404).json({ message: 'Whiteboard not found' });
  }
  res.json(whiteboards[id]);
});

React UI Component

import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';

function WhiteboardCanvas() {
  const [whiteboard, setWhiteboard] = useState(null);

  useEffect(() => {
    fetch('/api/whiteboard/' + whiteboardId)
      .then((res) => res.json())
      .then((data) => setWhiteboard(data));
  }, []);

  // Handle real-time updates (e.g., from WebSocket)

  return (
    <div className="whiteboard-container">
      {whiteboard && (
        <div className="whiteboard-content">{/* Canvas rendering */}</div>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}

export default WhiteboardCanvas;

Data Schema (Pydantic)

from pydantic import BaseModel
from typing import List, Optional

class User(BaseModel):
    id: str
    name: str
    email: str

class Whiteboard(BaseModel):
    id: str
    title: str
    content: str
    owner: User
    participants: List[str]
    created_at: int
    updated_at: Optional[int] = None

# Example usage:
whiteboard_data = {
    "id": "1234-5678-abcd-ef00",
    "title": "Math Problem Solving",
    "content": "Draw a graph of y = x^2.",
    "owner": {"id": "1", "name": "John Doe", "email": "john@example.com"},
    "participants": ["1", "2", "3"],
    "created_at": 1640995200
}

Summary

The Whiteboard Sharing Tool provides real-time collaboration features for classrooms. The Node.js API handles whiteboard creation and retrieval, while the React component renders the canvas. Pydantic models ensure data consistency and validation.

# Whiteboard Sharing Tool Documentation

## Module Name: Whiteboard Sharing Tool  
**Category:** Classroom  
**Summary:** Real-time collaborative whiteboard for visual explanations.  
**Target User:** Developer  

---

## Related Modules (3–5)  
1. **Student Response System**  
   - Enables interactive Q&A sessions alongside the whiteboard.  
2. **Assignment Submission & Grading**  
   - Integrates with platforms for submitting and grading visual projects.  
3. **Virtual Classroom Platforms**  
   - Embeds the whiteboard into live classroom sessions.  
4. **Interactive Polling Tools**  
   - Combines real-time feedback with collaborative content creation.  
5. **Resource Management Systems**  
   - Manages and shares educational resources on the whiteboard.  

---

## Use Cases (3+)  
1. **Real-Time Collaboration:**  
   - Teachers and students work together on diagrams, mind maps, or notes in real-time.  
2. **Virtual Classrooms:**  
   - Instructors use the whiteboard to explain concepts during live sessions.  
3. **Group Projects:**  
   - Students collaborate remotely on group projects using the shared whiteboard.  
4. **Remote Teaching:**  
   - Educators facilitate interactive lessons from different locations.  

---

## Integration Tips  
1. **Proof of Concept:**  
   - Start with a small implementation to test functionality and performance.  
2. **Low-Latency Connections:**  
   - Ensure reliable internet connectivity for real-time collaboration.  
3. **API Integration:**  
   - Use provided APIs to seamlessly integrate the whiteboard into your platform.  

---

## Configuration Options (Markdown Table)  

| **Parameter**               | **Description**                                                                 | **Default Value** |  
|------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------|  
| `enableCollaboration`       | Enable real-time collaboration feature.                                        | `true`           |  
| `renderMode`                | Set rendering mode: synchronous or asynchronous.                              | `synchronous`    |  
| `anonymousAccess`           | Allow anonymous users to access the whiteboard.                                | `false`          |  
| `brandingEnabled`           | Enable custom branding on the whiteboard interface.                            | `true`           |  
| `fileUploadLimit`           | Maximum file size allowed for uploads (in MB).                               | `10`             |  
| `zoomControl`               | Enable zoom controls for better accessibility.                                | `true`           |  

---

## Additional Notes  
- **License:** MIT License  
- **Support:** Contact support@company.com for assistance.  
- **Documentation Updates:** Version 1.0.0 (Last Updated: 2023-10-05)  

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**End of Document**