Kiala Givehand, an education specialist at Diablo Valley College, presented strategies for fostering online collaboration. The presentation discussed using tools like Google Hangouts, Skype and Google Docs to facilitate teamwork, peer feedback, and collective thinking. Tips included giving students choices in due dates, peer instruction and evaluations to increase investment. Free resources and examples of essay assignments, chapter reviews and research projects utilizing online collaboration were also provided.

1. Fostering Online Collaboration
Kiala Givehand, Ed.S.
Diablo Valley College

2. Your Facilitator
Kiala Givehand, Ed.S. Diablo Valley College

3. Here’s Where Were Going…
• Strategies
• Free resources / Tools
• Tips
• Examples

4. Where We Are Now
• How many of you are currently using
online collaboration as a part of the
classroom structure?
– Type “YES” in the chat.
• Type in one tool that you currently use to
facilitate online collaboration.

5. Online Collaboration
• Team work / Team building
• Peer-to-peer feedback/review
• Social skills
• Collective / creative / critical thinking
• Non threatening space for sharing ideas

6. STRATEGIES/TIPS FOR GETTING STUDENTS TO
SHOW UP AND INTERACT

7. Teacher Tasks
• Minimal interaction
• Guide, don’t lead
• Open ended questions
• Give them freedom
• Establish check-ins

8. Student Responsibilities
• Choice
– Due Dates
– Peer-to-Peer Instruction
– Group evaluation

9. Choice • Due Dates
Give students choices so they feel
invested in the task/activity. – Teacher guided, student
selected
– Give a range of options.
– Hold them to their
deadlines.
– Teach them to conduct
backward planning.

12. Choice
Give students choices so they feel
invested in the task/activity.
• Peer-to-Peer Instruction
– Have students determine
what skills each one can
contribute to the overall
project.
– Allow students to share
their expertise.

13. Choice
Give students choices so they feel • Group Evaluation
invested in the task/activity.
– Overall
– Individual
– Self

14. Group Expectations
• Guide students to set
realistic expectations of
one another and of
themselves.
• Ask them to share their
group expectations
with you and
classmates.
• Hold them accountable.

15. FREE RESOURCES / TOOLS

16. ONLINE DISCUSSION
• Google Groups
– groups.google.com
– threaded discussion
board
– sends to email
– shared calendar
– links to google docs

17. ONLINE DISCUSSION
• Facebook Groups
– Closed/Secret Group
• Load files
• Threaded discussions
• Photos
• Links

18. TIME FOR A POLL

19. REAL TIME COLLABORATION
• Google Hangout
• Skype
• Join.me

20. TIME FOR A POLL

21. DOCUMENT COLLABORATION
• Google Docs
• Box.net
• Dropbox
• Evernote
• VoiceThread

22. Other Technologies
• mindeister.com
• bubbl.us
• corkboard.me
• blogs

23. Collaborative Brainstorming

24. Collaborative Brainstorming

25. Collaborative Brainstorming

26. Blogs

27. EXAMPLES

28. Essay Assignments
• Collaborative writing
assignments.
• Task driven
• Communication level
(HIGH)
• The Writing Process

29. Peer Review
• Constructive feedback
• Specific elements
• Built into the writing
process.
• Deadline driven
• Accountability

30. Chapter Reviews
• Checklists
• Terminology
• Q&A
• Exercises
• Summaries
• Notes + Book

31. Research Assignments
• Hunting & Gathering
– Groups of 4
– Role Specific
– Local and Regional
News Sources
– Presentation Component
– Evaluation Component

32. Class Projects
• Long term collaboration. • Examples:
– Book trailers
• Requires full class – Article Analysis
participation. – Class Index & Glossary
– Class Handbook for Future
Students
• Ongoing phases – Class anthology
– Free Workshop
• “Jigsawed” groups

33. WHERE TO BEGIN?

34. Start From Where You Are
• Current assignments
– Short term
– Long term
• Break assignments into
phases.
• Keep the teams small (2-
4)
• Set clear guidelines and
expectations.
• Poll the students.

35. Once You’ve Done It
• Add the collaboration tools
as materials on your
syllabus.
• Polish your procedures.
• Relinquish more control to
students.
• Add resources.

36. Final Thoughts
• The evaluations at the
end are paramount.
– Self evaluation
– Individual members
– Group process
• This is a paradigm shift
for teacher and student.

37. Final Thoughts
• Front loading
• Assignment bank
• Collaborate with other
teachers
• Pace yourself
• Don’t let the technology
get in the way of the
learning.

38. How
am I going to
implement
this?
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39. Personal Learning Experience
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40. Begins with textbook content
App-based
Linked seamlessly with useful software
4
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41. Linked seamlessly with useful software!

42. increasing online engagement with
&
video

43. increasing online engagement with
&
check progress

44. increasing online engagement with
collaboration

45. increasing online engagement with
Google Drive: a cloud-based drive that allows
you to host share and co-create documents

46. increasing online engagement with
ConnectYard: a two-way communication app
that effectively embraces social media

47. increasing online engagement with
Evernote: cloud-based note taking available
on any device and now within MindTap

48. Access the
About your Learning Path
course at any time!
Learning Path
Personalize for an
MindApps
optimal experience!

49. Content is organized
by the instructor and
easy to follow!

50. Now let’s explore
the MindTap Reader

51. Instructors can customize their text b utilizing the edit functionality!
by

52. Choose the specific area
Select yourlike to customize
that you’d content type

53. Select the item
you’d like to add

54. Highlight the text to…
• Highlight in 4 colors
• Add Notes
• Listen to the text
• Define words
Add Notes
Your content appears
directly within the text!

55. Now Let’s Explore
Apps

56. Access all highlights
Take notes in MindTap that are
and notes in one
seamlessly linked with your
place!
account!

57. Students choose their
own preferences!

58. Available for
each chapter!
Create your own!

59. Let’s
SIMPLIFY
Access!
Search for a keyword, a page number or
even for words that appear in media!

65. Stay Tuned
for a live demonstration of
mindtap@cengage.com
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66. Fostering Online Collaboration
Kiala Givehand, Ed.S.
givehand.teach@gmail.com