Collaboration
My experience... I did a lot of videoconferencing during my degree. I wish I had known about all of the extras that were possible to do within these applications. I found myself switching back and forth between applications while on calls, trying to make use of something from this app, and something else from another. Try to find a good conferencing tool that is free, easy for to use, and satisfies all of your needs so that you can focus on the collaboration itself. |
Web 2.0So many tools fall under the umbrella term Web 2.0, so it is important to understand what it means. Web 2.0 describes websites that are dynamic and include user-generated content. For example, a Web 1.0 application would be the online Encyclopedia Brittanica, whereas a similar Web 2.0 application would be Wikipedia. All social media applications are Web 2.0 applications. Some definitions of PLEs refer only to the Web 2.0 applications that one uses for learning. Many of the programs described in this section of the website are considered to be Web 2.0 programs.
Including Web 2.0 programs into your PLE gives you an opportunity to develop a network to support and broaden your learning. |
ConferencingConferencing tools allow us to have audio or video conversations over the internet. We can meet with one other person or many people at one time. There are lots of affordances that conferencing tools have which can make your meeting more effective. Some of these are: screensharing capabilities (to show the people you are talking to what is currently showing on your computer screen), a digital whiteboard (to collaborate with); and, a messaging tool (for sending text information to one, some, or all of the people, without interrupting the audio).
Tools Google Hangouts Skype |
Social Networks |
Document Sharing |
Social networks allow people to connect with each other through a website or application. You can use social networks to collaborate with others and get feedback on your ideas. They can also help you keep up-to-date on particular people, organizations, or topics. Some people dedicate certain social networks or accounts within them for work or school applications only.
Be cautious of what you share and make public on social networks. Tools |
Often collaboration requires the sharing of documents. Many people resort to email to send drafts and subsequent edits to their teams. It can be hard to keep track of which is the most recent version or have more than one person contribute at a time. There are programs that allow you to see who has suggested which edits, include comments beside the composition, and even revert back to previous versions of the work. A whole group can work on one document at the same time, and you can see what each person is typing in real time.
Cloud-based document sharing also elliviates issues related to sending large files via email. Tools Google Docs Dropbox |
BlogsBlogs are websites that are frequently updated and are usually informal in tone. Your PLE can include your own personal blogs and the blogs of others.
Personal Blog Consider creating a blog to use to document your thoughts and development as you continue to learn. Blogs are also used to garner feedback and ideas from others regarding what you post. Tools Blogger Weebly Others' Blogs There is a wealth of information in blogs. It is important to trust the person whose blog you are following if you are using it for educational purposes. Blogs can help keep you up-to-date with new information. Subscribing to your blogs via a news aggregator (see Organization page) allows you to check-in on multiple blogs all from one place. Check out these blogs about e-learning Free Tech for Teachers Online Learning and DE Resources (Tony Bates) |