Jamboard - shortcuts for missing menu items

Last week I introduced Jamboard, a collaborative whiteboard that is part of the Google-suite of applications. If you've started to use it, you've probably noticed that there are relatively few menu items. On the one hand, this simplifies use of the tool by reducing the number of options you have; on the other hand, there are times when you feel that a basic functionality just seems to be missing. Documentation of how to use Jamboard remains sparse and can be confusing, since functionality of the application for the web browser differs from the physical Jamboard product.  In this blogpost, I provide tips on how to find some hidden menus and how to use keyboard shortcuts for common actions.

Duplicate frame 

If you are using Jamboard for small group work, each group needs to have its own frame to work in.  You do not need to manually rebuild each frame! Simply duplicate the frame for as many groups you have.  

1. Click on the downward carat below the frame number to expand the frame bar.

2. Click on the three vertical dots in the right upper corner of the frame you want to duplicate.

3. Click on "duplicate frame."

Undo Clear Frame     

You likely have seen the button to "clear frame" and perhaps even clicked on it by mistake.  If you search for an "undo" button, you won't find one! If you or your students accidentally wipe out everything on the frame, you can restore it immediately.  

Undo clear frame =             Mac:  Command + Z 

                                            PC:    Control + Z 

This key combination works to undo your last action. To undo the undo, or to repeat the action you have just undone, use Command + Y (Mac) or Control + Y (PC).

Cut or Copy / Paste

The familiar keyboard shortcuts for cut/paste or copy/paste work on objects on the same frame or between different frames. Since you cannot drag and drop items from one frame to another, these keyboard shortcuts are very helpful.

Cut:         Command / Control + X

Copy:      Command / Control + C

Paste:      Command / Control + V

Duplicate

Duplicate is actually the one menu item that consistently appears whenever you click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the item selected.  The keyboard shortcut, however, is also an option.

Duplicate:        Command / Control + D

These keyboard shortcuts work very nicely in Jamboard, AND in most other programs on your computer. Try them in your next Google Doc as well.