Collaboration and Group Meeting Tools

About Collaborations and Group Meetings

Collaboration technologies enable individuals to work together toward a shared goal, as well as interact in a virtual space where they can create content or solve a problem. For example, participants can interact with materials by editing, commenting, and revising documents. Personalized exchanges can include chat, voice, and video conversations. Digital collaborations can accommodate various learning needs by supporting synchronous, as well as asynchronous meetings.

Effective Practices for Collaborative Learning

• Structure activity so that task-based interdependence is emphasized (assign well-defined roles and tasks to members)
• Avoid "leading" the group when group leaders have been put in place
• Use real life scenarios to facilitate discussion and collaborative learning
• Limit group size (4-5) to encourage meaningful exchanges among learners
• Monitor participation and provide constructive feedback when you see that members are stuck

To discuss more effective practices for using learning management systems and platforms in general, schedule a meeting with one of our TLC consultants.

Effective Practices for Group (Synchronous) Meetings

• Provide technical requirements for the meeting in advance (so learners are prepared to share cameras and mics)
• Reduce visual distractions by preparing virtual spaces in advance and removing clutter from camera view
• Choose a "moderator" to assist with monitoring group chat
• Engage participants by leveraging built-in tools such as screen-sharing and annotations
• Create breakout rooms and engage learners with collaborative activities as you transition between technologies (slide to video, desktop to slide, etc.)

To discuss more effective practices for using learning management systems and platforms in general, schedule a meeting with one of our TLC consultants.

 What's in our Ecosystem?

• Office 365 OneNote: digital notebook for multi-user collaboration
• Office 365 PowerPoint: presentation tool for online collaboration
• Office 365 Teams: chat-based workspace housing team content such as files, conversations, project plans
• Office 365 Whiteboard: shared digital canvas that allows multiple users to interact and contribute from individual devices
• Office 365 Word: allows real-time coauthoring in OneDrive
• Office 365 Yammer: socially-driven group space for exchanging thoughts and ideas, creating communities
• Zoom: webconferencing software with multimedia, chat, and screen sharing