Explanation of Collaboration Tools

Overview

This module explains how to use the Collaboration Tools to participate in

real-time lessons and discussions with your instructor and/or others students.

Explanation

The Collaboration Tools allow the instructor and students to participate in

synchronous (at the same time) lessons and discussions.

Examples of these sessions include real-time, online classroom discussions, office hour type question/answer forums, and group project discussions.

Archives of previous sessions are also available for review. Guest speakers and subject-matter experts can also lead sessions using the collaboration tools.

One of the tools available is the

Virtual Classroom or chat room. This can be used when several students and/or the instructor all join the same session at the same time.
  • For example; if you need to work on a project with other members in your group, you may decide that at 6:00 p.m. on Friday night, you will all get together in the chat room to discuss who is going to do what for your project.

Most chats are text based and you type what you would normally say and everyone else in the chat room can see what you have written. Other students will then comment and you can read what they are saying.

In the Virtual Classsroom you also have access to a shared

whiteboard where you can draw things and a group web browser, where all participants can view the same web page at the same time.



glossary
Archives
collaboration tools
group web browser
real-time
synchronous
Virtual Classroom
whiteboard