Online+Collaboration+Tools

**__Online collaboration tools and ways to use them in the classroom__**
Jennifer Green

I have used online collaboration in classes at school and in my personal life, and I was wondering how could this be used in a classroom with younger students. It is easy to see how adults can use online collaboration but when it comes to young children, it is hard to incorporate technology and the internet because both of those things involve reading and understanding how to follow directions. In this wiki I plan to address three questions: 1. How can online collaboration tools be used in the classroom? 2. What types of online collaboration tools are available? 3. Can online collaboration tools be use in the primary grades?
 * Watching and Wondering: **


 * Webbing: **
 * indicates that it can be easily used in primary grades

**[[image:http://www.wm.edu/news/images/2010/photosets/skype_in_classroom/skype_1.jpg width="223" height="137" align="left"]]Skype** or other videoconferencing sites*

 * []
 * []
 * Classes can Skype with authors and other experts.
 * Skype other classes in different countries to learn about culture and different people.
 * Skype with a class that speaks another language to learn the way the language is spoke by native people.

**[[image:http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/EN/Assets/Boy_smartPhone_school_BRAND_PHO_EN.jpg width="178" height="135" align="left"]]Smart Phones and Touch Pads**

 * []
 * Students can work on group projects from home.
 * Students can receive homework help from other students and the teacher from home.

**[[image:http://mcclungsworld.com/files/2010/09/P9230064-600x449.jpg width="205" height="154" align="left"]]Google Docs**

 * Students can work on presentations from home or from different computers.
 * Teachers can make forms in Google Docs for students to fill out.
 * Students can make forms for their peers to fill out during peer conferencing or as reviews for tests.

**[[image:http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSCiqCcMstQb1ppThvafLlDk3CC-07eim-V2meYmFE-ZKHlm7FRxg width="206" height="194" align="left"]]Edmodo***

 * []
 * []
 * Students can use it over the summer to discuss summer reading books.
 * Use it to give students daily feedback on assignments, positive reinforcement, and to attach assignments so students cannot lose them.
 * Students collaborate with each other to create documents and presentations.

**[[image:lyndsayswiki/wallwisher.png width="216" height="158" align="left"]]Wallwisher** and other online bulletin boards*

 * []
 * []
 * Students can use this personally to take notes like an online planner.
 * Students can use them for classification activities.
 * Students can collaborate with each other on questions and assigned readings.

**[[image:http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTASYXIcGplIv6dbx9X2jtcpQ_HMnHFN5ZHiIR33hHyUnG5tSKJAw width="216" height="144" align="left"]]Crocodoc**

 * []
 * This tool allows students the ability to create a document and place a layer over it for editing.
 * Students can use this to have writing conferences with their teachers.
 * Students can use the for peer editing.

Wikis
-LR
 * http://wikisineducation.wetpaint.com/ - This is a link to a wiki for teachers who want to learn about using wikis in the classroom.
 * There are many applications for using wikis in the classroom. Teachers can create a class wiki to allow students to display work.
 * Students can also use them for peer editing.

**Wiggling an Weaving:**
Incorporating online collaboration in the classroom can be difficult if it is something you have never done. Many of the articles I have read give examples of things to do in your classroom with online collaboration, but not much is written about how to actually implement it. One site suggests you begin by setting the stage for you students. this involves explaining the importance of collaboration to your students, and clearly stating the guidelines for the assignment. Next, create the proper environment for you students to work effectively. set of parameters for how the students should connect and what means of communication are appropriate. For example, should all communicating be done on a discussion board? or can students use phone calls and chat sessions. These things need to be outlined for students before the assignment begins. Once students have the guidelines, model the process by showing the students how you want them to communicate. You should also allow the students to have some involvement in setting up the parameters of the assignment. Next, you guide the process once it begins. Let the students know before hand how you will be involved and follow through with it as the assignment continues. Give the students feed back while the process is happening and let them know what is on your mind. Finally, evaluate the process at the end. Decide whether the learning objectives were achieved and find out from the students what they liked about the process and what they did not like about the process. Wiggling: Why do we need to incorporate online collaboration in the classroom? What are benefits to online collaboration? This article answers some of these questions. http://www.oakland.k12.mi.us/Portals/0/Learning/04_1127.pdf

**Wrapping and** **Waving:**
There are many reasons why we should use online collaboration, such as blogs, Google docs, and online bulletin boards in the classroom. The first one is that it very engaging for students. Students love to use computers so we might as well use that to our advantage. By collaboration online with other students, our students are learning how to use technology effectively and how to work with others. Another great reason to use online collaboration in the classroom is to create a sense of community. Students are more likely to talk to each other online than they are in person so this helps to create relationship and give the students a sense of community in their classroom. Using sites like Skype and other video conferencing sites is a great way to introduce your students to the outside world. These sites allow students to have access to people from all over the world in a safe environment. Because money is tight these days in schools, interviews with author and other experts can be set up in your classroom over the internet to save money. Students can also collaborate with classes in other countries to make presentations or just to learn about other cultures and places. I think that using online collaboration tools in the classroom is a wonderful ideas. It can be done in any size classroom and most of it can be done with any grade. IF you are in a kindergarten classroom, Skype and smart phones are probably your best bet. If you are in any grade above second, you could use any of the online collaboration tools. The sites and tools are easy to use and they provide many benefits for your students and your classroom atmosphere.

**Wishing:**
When I become a teacher, I hope to be able to use online collaboration tools in my classroom to enhance my students learning. I love the idea of using Skype to talk to other classes or professionals because it allows you to take your students to place you would never actually be able to take them. I also hope to use other forms of online collaboration in my classroom such as Wallwisher or other online bulletin boards. I think students would really enjoy completing assignments on here are collaborating with their peers on projects. Overall, I believe that online collaboration is very important to incorporate into your classroom the benefit your students and the sense of community.