Credit: https://onlinelearninginsights.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/8183227679_ae1fc2d4d8_c.jpg
As educators design learning activities that best suit the needs of their students, it is important to address the tool selection process and reflect on it.
- What are the advantages & disadvantages of using a particular tool for an online collaborative learning activity?
- How can the educator address tool overload and have incentives to ensure students make use of that particular tool?
- What selection criteria would you recommend when selecting a tool to support a collaborative learning activity?
Two tools that I have been recently introduced to are GoogleDocs and Prezi. Both these tools are widely used by educators and appeared on the well-known 2014 Top 100 Tools for Learning by Jane Hart with GoogleDocs ranking in at #2 and Prezi at #13. Have a look at other tools!
http://c4lpt.co.uk/top100tools/
Before deciding on any particular tool, one must consider the learning outcomes, the available resources and support they can provide for novice students. Other aspects to consider are the learner base and how that impacts tool selection, as introverts prefer asynchronous tools and extroverts thrive in synchronous tools.
Synchronous: existing or occurring at the same time* (e.g., Skype, Blackboard Collaborate, Google Hangouts, etc.)
Asynchronous: not occurring at the same time* (e.g., Moodle`s discussion forums, blog posts and comments, online bulletin boards, etc.)
Whatever tool you choose keep in mind that this is a process, and sometimes you learn by doing. Ask reflective questions for yourself in terms of tool selection and ask for feedback from your students as well to improve the overall course design!
vivianachiorean 