The purpose of this study is to clarify the factors that affect effective group discussions when using online whiteboard during face-to-face design activities for high school students in the classroom during the pandemic. Using a case study approach, the research was conducted at Fukusho High School in Fukuoka, Japan. Through the questionnaire survey, face-to-face discussions when combined with the use of online whiteboard, offers real-time verbal and non-verbal feedback that enabled effective group discussions during the design process. In addition, students’ competencies in using digital devices may not influence the effectiveness of communications during group discussions and their motivations in using online whiteboard. The current findings may provide a useful hypothesis for further study to verify the correlations between students’ competencies, effectiveness in communications when using online whiteboard during face-to-face discussions, and students’ motivations in using online whiteboard.