This guide explains the main functions of online collaboration tools, reviews some of the most widely used tools, and makes recommendations. Each type of tool is categorized into one of five groups based on the method by which they are used. Each group is then described in brief. The guide then reviews some specific collaborative work environments that use online collaboration tools extensively.
Online collaboration tools can be a great alternative to a face-to-face meeting. They allow you to get the team together without having everyone travel somewhere. This article gives you some background on collaboration tools, and suggests some ways to use them effectively.
Choosing The Right Tools For Online Collaboration Tools
To make sure you get the best eLearning experience, it is quite important to pick the best online collaboration tools. Take benefit of collaborative online working methods and reshape your eLearning process. Here are some of the best tools that enable smooth collaboration amongst learners.
Project Management: ProofHub
Project management is a wide topic that includes many things and is an important part of eLearning. You will need to know whether you have distributed the assignments equally among members, how every member is working on assignments and will the project deadline be reached. For all your little details, ProofHub – a cloud based project management software will help you to improve communication and collaboration in learning projects.
What I like:
- You can communicate through group chat.
- Raise issues and these get resolved easily.
- Sharing of files, documents and information becomes simple.
- Notes functionality will help group members to write content together.
- Sharing of ideas becomes very easy.
- It also lets you connect with your projects on the go from their mobile.
- Great calendar view lets you see everything you need.
- Kanban view turns tasks into boards that are also easy to see at a glance.
Create And Edit Documents: Google Docs
Google Docs has some powerful features for eLearners projects. Google Docs can be used by online learners to collaborate on team projects! You can bring your documents to life with smart editing and styling tools.
What I like:
- Yes, it’s free.
- Save documents on the cloud.
- Simplifies document storage for teams.
- Amazing templates are available for free.
- Various people can even work on the same document at the same time.
Collaborate Creatively: Invisionapp
Invisionapp will bring your whole team together to build better eLearning projects. The online learners can easily upload files, documents, GIFs, JPGs, PNGs, and PDFs and also add animation to transform their static screens into interactive prototypes.
What I like:
- Solid workflow process.
- Browsing and sharing files easily.
- Flexible way to collaborate in real time.
- Better manage projects with new page.
Meaningful interaction
Effective collaboration tools…
…allow learners to interact with authentic audiences
This type of authentic interaction can be achieved between learners (emulating the type of interaction in the classroom), but also with learners in other locations and time zones to create a wider community of sharing their learning together.
Connecting to expert speakers of English will also be beneficial to learners. It can replace the types of interactions learners might have when travelling abroad or speaking to tourists in their country.
…facilitate effective peer-interaction
Learners need to be able to interact with their peers both in and out of the classroom. Collaboration tools can create a space for them to do so, through direct messaging, video conferencing, forums and online group tasks.
…create opportunities to communicate in authentic modes/means
Even for learners who are new to online learning, most will have experience of communicating via digital modes in their everyday lives. They will have some experience with using voice and video calls, messenger apps, email, etc. Since learners are already comfortable with these modes, using them in their language learning will help to make the experience more meaningful and relevant as it emulates their real life experiences.
Take away tips
- Look for tools that allow learners to interact with each other, both during and outside of class time – for example, web-based learning management systems (LMS) with forums, or group chats on WhatsApp or Google Hangouts.
- Look for tools that allow learners to connect with others in the outside world – examples include social media channels like Facebook, or platforms for language learning pen pals like com or InterPals.
- Ensure the tool has media capabilities for learners to communicate with voice, video, chat, document upload and screen share.
- Choose tools that are easy to use and familiar to learners.
Autonomous learning
Effective collaboration tools…
…help learners develop confidence to take risks
Learners can take risks they may not normally have taken when allowing them to interact anonymously in non-threatening environments with others. The pressure of communicating in face-to-face environments is mitigated when interacting online.
…support the development of metacognitive skills
Moving their learning online will mean that learners are having to develop a range of new skills – how to manage their learning, and identify tools to support this. Of course it’s important for teachers to support the development of these skills, but you should also encourage learners to share their experiences with each other to find the methods that work best for them.
Take away tips
- Ensure the tool allows for learners to share answers and ideas anonymously, for example, through the use of polls as in Microsoft Teams.
- Encourage learners to share ideas on how to manage their learning remotely, with or without you present.
Increased security
If you handle sensitive data as part of your job, you’ll know the severe consequences of a data breach.
Emails can accidentally be sent to the wrong person, leaving your organisation vulnerable.
An online collaboration tool gives you total control over who sees your data. You can set permissions, only allowing certain individuals or teams to view a document or a series of documents.
Leading vendors also put strict security measures in place to ensure that the software can’t be hacked.
Reduce the number of tools you use
You’ll no doubt have a long list of tools that you use on a daily basis.
You might use Excel to record holiday requests; a survey tool such as Survey Monkey to interview key stakeholders, a productivity app like Todoist to manage your tasks – the list goes on.
Wouldn’t it be better to have everything in one place? With a collaboration tool, you can then use just one login and access a wide range of tools and data at your fingertips. No need to remember a million different passwords either!
Increase productivity
You would hope so right? There is no point implementing a collaboration tool if it’s not going to increase productivity.
Luckily, they do. Research has found that these tools can improve team efficiency by 20%, which in turn leads to more effective collaboration in the workplace.
One key reason for this is that your stakeholders can access all of the information they need easily, in one place.
This can help cut down the time that they spend searching for documents.
Statistics suggest that employees spend 1.8 hours every day—9.3 hours per week, on average—searching and gathering information.
With this reduced, your colleagues can spend more time being productive and less time on boring, admin related tasks.
Capture ideas
How often have you discovered a great idea to improve your organisation, sent it to your boss and never got a response?
The main for this is that it got lost in the sea of emails they receive every day.
An online tool, allows you to capture all of your ideas in one location. Also, because these tools are easily searchable, you and your colleagues can easily track down an idea if required.
Project Collaboration Solution Requirements
- Cloud-based technology. A decade ago, most software solutions stored data on hard drives. …
- Workflow management tools. A good project management solution is one that brings everyone together. …
- A visual representation of your workload.
- The ability to track multiple projects.
Is online collaboration safe?
Most important of all, the web offers a few trustworthy, safe collaboration tools – and a very many unreliable, potentially dangerous ones. Before you download any software online, you should do some research to verify that it not only provides the features you need but also that it is not compromised by malware.
Conclusion
A new generation of communications tools that are focused on improving team productivity and collaboration. Features include Online collaboration is available for this product, Easily create and join rooms, Save your keyboard strokes with quick access hotkeys to rooms, Supports real-time chat sessions so you can see when others are typing, Automatic notifications of chats, activity and responses.
Finding the right online collaboration tool for your business, whether it’s a project management solution, a virtual classroom, or a review platform, is an important choice. In this guide we will share our complete, no-nonsense assessment framework that guides you to make smart choices in selecting the right service for your organization.