© 2013 TILA Petra Hoffstaedter – Steinbeis-Transferzentrum Sprachlernmedien 1 Tila Teacher Training Tools for Synchronous and Asynchronous Telecollaboration

© 2013 TILA Synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 2 Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration Challenges:  Same-time participation => conflicting schedules can be problematic  May require significant bandwidth to be efficient  Additional preparation effort and interaction discipline Asynchronous telecollaboration  Time-displaced (written) Communication and collaboration  Different time / different place  Connect at each person's own convenience and own schedule  Time for reflection before communicating Synchronous telecollaboration  Real-time communication and collaboration  Same time / different place  Spontaneous interaction Challenges:  Sometimes difficult to ensure coherent interaction and negotiation

© 2013 TILA Tools for synchronous telecollaboration Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 3 3D Virtual Worlds  Open Sim(ulator)  Second Life 3D Virtual Worlds  Open Sim(ulator)  Second Life Chat Real-time oral communication between two or more people Video and audio supported conversations, collaboration and webinars Audio supported meetings, role plays and task-based interaction in dedicated virtual scenarios Short written interaction

© 2013 TILA Video Conferencing Tool: BigBlueButton Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 4  Video/audio conference  Multiple users can share their webcam at the same time.  No built-in limit on the number of simultaneously active webcams.  Public and private written chat  Document sharing (PDF or Office documents)  Desktop Sharing  Whiteboard  Recording (slides + audio + chat) for later playback

© 2013 TILA 3D Virtual World: Open Sim(ualator)  Interactive simulated 3D environment  Accessed by multiple users through online interface  Users, represented by avatars, can interact and communicate (audio and written chat) Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 5

© 2013 TILA Tools for asynchronous telecollaboration Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 6 ForumBlog WikiJournal Asynchronous written online discussion Each user can start a discussion topic and post a message Users can react to each others posts Asynchronous written online discussion Each user can start a discussion topic and post a message Users can react to each others posts Freely expandable collection of interlinked webpages Every participant can write and edit text, create weblinks or embed pictures etc. Freely expandable collection of interlinked webpages Every participant can write and edit text, create weblinks or embed pictures etc. Blog posts created by a blog owner Option for readers to add comments Blog posts created by a blog owner Option for readers to add comments The blog and assignment facilities in Moodle can also be used for writing learning diaries with reflections on learning and telecollaboration Learning diaries can be private or public (i.e. only accessible by the author and the teacher or also available to other students). The blog and assignment facilities in Moodle can also be used for writing learning diaries with reflections on learning and telecollaboration Learning diaries can be private or public (i.e. only accessible by the author and the teacher or also available to other students). Write and add pictures or multimedia

© 2013 TILA Forum: asynchronous written online interaction Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 7 Extract from a forum exchange between members of a telecollaboration team (from: EU Project icEurope „Intercultural Communication in Europe“)

© 2013 TILA Wiki: Collaborative creation of webpages Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 8 Extract from wiki of a telecollaboration team (from: EU Project icEurope „Intercultural Communication in Europe“)

© 2013 TILA Blog: Sharing Ideas and Interests Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 9  Usually one person writes a blog post on a certain topic and readers can add comments  It is also possible to create “team blogs” for small groups: One person initially creates the blog, then adds other people to it as members who can then contribute to the blog (cf. “Blogger”). Extract from a blog post from the blog „Intercultural Communication“

© 2013 TILA Journal: Reflecting on learning Experiences Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 10 Journal entry from a student about her telecollaboration experience (from: EU Project icEurope „Intercultural Communication in Europe“)

© 2013 TILA Moodle - an educational social learning platform The TILA Moodle is a one-stop shop learning platform offering the whole variety of social networking features in one environment:  Discussion Forums, Wikis, Blogs, and Chat  It also offers the option to integrate the video conferencing tool BigBlueButton In addition, teachers can  upload files, or create links to external websites,  make announcements  … and much more Summary of good reasons for using Moodle: something-shiny/ Alternative social learning platform: Edmodo (for more information see Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 11 Why use different tools, if you can have it all in one? If you don’t have access to a Moodle platform, you will find information on other social learning environments (e.g. Edmodo, Mahara) in the “Overview of telecollaboration tools and social learning platforms” at the end of Topic 2.

© 2013 TILA Over to you Tools for synchronous and asynchronous telecollaboration 12 Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the different tools. Which tool would you use for which purpose ? Think of a collaboration task and decide which tool(s) you would use and why.