As an educator, both Lucidchart and Lucidspark are excellent tools—the choice between using one or the other depends on your specific teaching objectives and the nature of the classroom activity.
In general, Lucidchart is a diagramming tool intended for detailed, structured diagrams such as flowcharts and org charts while Lucidspark is a whiteboarding tool intended for more freeform brainstorming, ideation, and collaboration.
Choosing which tool to use can also come down to preference. Some educators have been using Lucidchart for years and love its variety of features, while other educators may find Lucidspark easier to navigate—especially if they teach younger students.
Below, you’ll find some examples of various use cases that may be better suited to using one product over the other. But at the end of the day, you know your students and classroom best. Play around with both Lucidchart and Lucidspark to get a feel for each of them to help you determine which works best for your students.
Lucidchart
Here are a few features unique to Lucidchart with examples of how to use them in the classroom.
- Flowcharts, swim lanes, and other diagramming: Build a cause and effect graphic organizer for students to fill in during a reading assignment (example below).
- Shape libraries: Assign projects that use different shape libraries such as floorplans, mind maps, org charts, UI mocks, circuit diagrams, geometric proofs, etc.
- Data linking: Upload a spreadsheet of student data to build a seating chart.
- Smart Containers: Create student working groups based on reading level scores.
Example:
Lucidspark
Here are a few features unique to Lucidspark with examples of how to use them in the classroom.
- Breakout boards: Facilitate a jigsaw activity using breakout boards for different topics.
- Emoji reactions: Gauge how students feel about various learning objectives by having them react with emoji reactions.
- Freehand drawing: Use for annotating a reading selection with the Pen and Highlighter options.
- Timer: Give students 5 minutes at the end of class to fill out an exit ticket (example below).
- Voting: Have students vote on a class activity or project theme after brainstorming ideas.
Example:
Do you have examples of when you choose Lucidchart vs. when you choose Lucidspark to use with your students? Let us know in the comments!
