Using Technology for Collaboration
In the working world today collaboration is an integral part of the skill set required in many occupations. Now that most schools have access to technology it’s important that we use it to its fullest potential to help our students acquire all of the skills needed to find success.
Collaboration comes naturally to us through our innate want to interact with others. However, there are some things that you can work on with your students to make the process of collaboration more effective. Conflict can be one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome when working in a group collaboratively. When our students are aware of these challenges and have the tools needed to overcome them the real collaboration can begin.
Collaboration helps to promote problem solving and critical thinking skills, when you add technology into the mix it helps to increase productivity and helps to keep students engaged. There are a multitude of different EdTech tools available today that can help to get your students into the collaborative mindset.
Padlet can be used as a virtual wall. Your students can start discussions, write responses and add resources with this versatile resource. It is also a great place to brainstorm at the beginning of a group activity!
Visme is a great tool that allows students to collect information and then use it to create infographics, presentations, reports and more. With a library full of images your students will have a variety of resources readily available at their fingertips.
VoiceThread is a platform where students can create and share media projects. Include video, image, drawings and voice in presentations, making it extremely inclusive of all media types.
GoogleHangouts is the perfect place for students to work together outside of the classroom. You don’t have to be together at all times physically to work together. This a great resource for students to use to stay in touch and keep the collaboration going outside of the classroom.
Using digital tools such as these is a great way to start the discussion and get students talking. With the help of resources such as these it means that collaboration doesn’t have to end when our students leave the classroom, it can be taken home and continued anywhere!
We’d love to hear about any teaching strategies that you use with your students. Please share what works well for you with @aquilaeducation on Twitter orFacebook.
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