TL;DR
To keep participants focused, hosts can reveal Board content gradually using three techniques:
- Simple Cache: Hide specific details under shapes and delete the shape to reveal them.
- Step-by-Step Journey: Organize the board into zones and reveal them sequentially (e.g., past, present, future).
- Screen Sync: Use Presentation mode to force participants’ screens to follow your view and navigation in real-time.
Important information
This article describes the features of the New Board experience. If you are using the Classic Board interface, respective features are described here.
Please note that the Classic Board experience will soon be discontinued and replaced by the New Board experience. For more information, please click here. Learn how to return to the Classic Board experience in the meantime and find answers to common questions about key updates here.
- Overview
- Reveal Content With a Simple Cache
- Guide Participants With a Step-By-Step Journey
- Control the View With Screen Sync
- What’s Next?
Overview
As a host, you sometimes want to show your Board step by step. Revealing information gradually helps you keep attention, guide the conversation, and make sure everyone focuses on the same topic at the same time.
Here are three ways to do that, from fastest to most prepared: a simple cache, a step-by-step journey, and screen sync.
Reveal Content With a Simple Cache
Use this method to cover one or more areas of your Board with an opaque shape, then remove it when you’re ready to reveal what’s underneath.
Ideal for:
- Revealing a result
- Showing a quiz answer
- Uncovering a surprise section without much prep
Steps
-
Prepare your content
- Arrange the text, images, or ideas you want to hide on your Board.
- Lock the hidden content
- Select all items you want to hide.
- In the toolbar, click the padlock icon to lock them. This helps you avoid moving them while you handle the cover shape.
Add a shape to cover the content
- In the left toolbar, click Shapes.
- Choose a rectangle and place it over the content you want to hide.
- Resize the shape so it fully covers the area.
- Reveal the content during your session
When you’re ready to reveal the content, select the cover shape, then press Delete on your keyboard or click Delete in the toolbar. The content underneath appears immediately.
💡Prepare several cover shapes in advance if you want to reveal different areas at different times.
Guide Participants With a Step-By-Step Journey
Use this method to tell a story or walk participants through a multi-step process. The first step stays visible, while the next steps are hidden and revealed one by one.
Ideal for:
- Onboarding journeys
- Retrospectives in stages (past, present, future)
- Presenting a project one phase at a time
Steps
-
Structure your Board into zones
- Divide your Board into clear sections, for example, “Step 1 (Preparation),” “Step 2 (Brainstorming),” and “Step 3 (Instructions).”
- Arrange them in a logical order from left to right or top to bottom.
-
Hide future steps
- Hide the zones you’ll reveal later and leave only the ones you’re ready to show.
-
Reveal each step as you go
When you’re ready to move on, reveal the next zones to show the following step in your presentation.
💡Add arrows or labels between zones so participants can easily see the flow from one step to the next.
Control the View With Screen Sync
Use this method when you want everyone to see exactly what you see. Screen sync uses the Presentation mode so participants follow your view on the Board.
Ideal for:
- Highly structured presentations
- Guided tours of complex Boards
- Sessions where you don’t want participants exploring the Board on their own
Steps
-
Prepare your Board
Design your Board with distinct areas and leave enough space between them so each area is clear when you move or zoom. -
Start with the big picture
Begin your session zoomed out so participants see the overall structure, but not all details. -
Turn on screen sync
- At the top of your screen, click the Presentation icon.
-
Guide participants through the Board
Move, scroll, and zoom through the different areas of your Board. Everyone’s view follows yours. -
Allow free exploration
When you’re done presenting, click the Presentation icon again to turn off sync. Participants can now explore the Board on their own.
Important information
Remember to turn off sync at the end of your guided session so participants can interact freely.