Working Collaboratively Online

1
Working Collaboratively Online

• Presentation Overview
• When Collaboration Works
• When it Doesnt
• Deciding on Mechanisms
• Variety of Choices
• Ensuring Success
• Applications
• Emerging Technologies
• Web Safari

2
Using Collaboration the Good News

• When Collaboration Works
• As effective as face-to-face teams
• Simplifies communications
• Communication is more free, more lively
• Learners are treated equally
• Learners become more self-reliant
• Performance and behaviors can be monitored

3
Using Collaboration the Bad News

• When collaboration doesnt work
• Without good design, some learners are penalized
• Not everyone can participate
• Instructors must work harder
• Conversations are awkward

4
When Considering Collaboration

• Do you really need collaboration?
• Which media to use?
• What message route scheme to use?
• Which tools can learners use or prefer?
• Size and distribution of the class
• Cost of collaboration mechanisms
• Technical specs / Connection speed

5
Collaboration Mechanisms

• Email
• Discussion groups
• Chat
• Whiteboard
• Screen sharing
• Response pads
• Audio/Videoconferencing

6
Ensuring Collaboration Success

• Provide complete instructions
• Moderate/monitor discussion groups
• Be active but do not dominate
• Prevent common problems
• Motivate Participation
• Give incentives to participate
• Encourage learners individually
• Provoke discussion
• Simplify message posting

7
Collaboration Applications

• Higher Education
• Business Training
• Client Accessibility / Account Management
• Website Interactivity
• Productivity / Reduced Costs
• Online Business Roundtables/Presentations
• Medical/Scientific/Educational Research

8
Summary

• Allow learners to collaborate just as they do in
  a classroom
• Make real-time collaboration optional
• Rely on email and discussion groups
• Start simple before using advanced mechanisms
• Encourage learning not chit chat
• Use mechanisms suited to tech specs and skills of
  the participants

9
Emerging Collaboration Technologies
The Grid

• GRID Computing
• Optimizes computing resources, pooling them for
  large capacity workloads
• Enabling collaboration across vast networks
• Enables full collaboration towards common
  business goals
• Allows for the virtualization of vast and
  disparate IT resources

10
Web Safari

• GlobalChat
• http//www.globalchat.com/
• InfoWorkSpace
• http//www.infoworkspace.com/
• Grid Computing
• http//www.computerworld.com/softwaretopics/softwa
  re/story/0,10801,85884,00.html
• http//www-1.ibm.com/grid/
• Microsofts SharePoint
• http//www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/
• Center for Innovative Learning Technologies
• http//www.cilt.org/
• Center for Technology in Learning
• http//ctl.sri.com/
• Journal of Computer-Mediated Education
• http//www.ascusc.org/jcmc/vol4/issue2/

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Feeling Collaborative?

• Thoughts?

• Questions?

• Feedback?