In addition to exploring tools that allow live (synchronous) interactions between people in real time such as web conferencing, instant messaging, and VoIP, we will also be exploring tools that allow people to interact on their own time (asynchronously). An example of this type of tool is an “online workspace”, which can also be referred to as an “extranet” or an “online collaboration tool.” During this course, we are demonstrating how to use an online workspace tool called Google Groups to complement our live sessions.
It allows all of us to log in on our own time and access course materials, share ideas and resources, and discuss experiences. We also think it might be a good option for GDLN affiliates to use with groups who desire a simple way to follow-up and continue sharing and collaborating after a GDLN videoconferencing event.
There are lots of different online workspace tools available – and while they share many of the same features (document management, task management, calendaring, discussions, etc.) they have different strengths and weaknesses. To make a generalization, they tend to range from “complex and powerful” too “simple and intuitive.” Some of them, such as Web Office and Central Desktop, have many of the features that one might typically find in an organizational intranet (document library, group calendar, time tracking tools, database tools, etc.). These tools are very powerful but also tend to be more complicated and harder to use. Another group, such as ProjectSpaces, Basecamp, and near-time excel at project and task management and group coordination. They tend to work well for groups of people from different organizations who need to communicate and coordinate over time about discrete activities and projects. Lastly, are tools that are excellent at supporting larger communities of users and focus primarily on discussions and knowledge sharing. Google Groups and Yahoo Groups are examples of this type of tool.
For this course we wanted a tool that met the following criteria:
1 – really easy to use and administer
2 – excellent facilitating discussions and knowledge sharing
3 – easy and cheap to set up (so GDLN affiliates could apply it easily in their own work)
Document and task management as well as other database features were less important. In our view Google Groups is a great fit for this particular set of criteria, and we picked it over Yahoo Groups because it is easier to add users. Yahoo has a more complicated process for setting up an account and logging into a group for the first time. Google Groups has an excellent discussion tool that combines all the best features of e-mail listservs with an excellent online archive. It also has a nice “wiki” feature that allows us all to edit pages – which we will be experimenting with to explore how discussions are good for some types of knowledge sharing and wiki’s for others.
As we go forward, we would be very interested in hearing from course participants about what they think about the Google Group tool as well as any experiences using online workspace tools in general.
July 19, 2007 at 3:16 pm
I totally agree with this entry, Joe. For instance, we created a “wiki” in GoogleGroups, two days ago, for working in our different projects and I must say that it’s really useful. Besides being handy, this tool is allowing better coordination and information sharing, since everyone within the group (we are four members) also can update crucial info, so that it helps us to make more efficient and timely decisions.
July 20, 2007 at 6:09 am
That is right, but I can not access to the Wiki in the Google Groups
What is the ways?
Regards
El Ghassem
July 20, 2007 at 7:16 am
I would like to say, that on-line workspace is very important topic for creator of on-line courses. I’ve been taught course Network Technology for Distance Learning some years. My experience shows that on-line workspace is modern and actual subject for students and teachers. Usually we offer to on-line course creator such tools as Virtual Learning Environments (for example BB or MOODLE). It is obvious that VLEs provide many possibilities to teachers and students. But my experience shows that now we understand weakness of VLEs (inflexible, expensiveness (apart from MOODLE), inconnectivity etc.). On-line workspace allows to solve aforesaid problem. Recently I am updating my course and will teach my students and colleague how to create online workspace, and participation in this course is very important and useful for me.
Regarding on-line tools I am going to use in my course are google, and flickr.com. Why google? Because it has Russian language and such tools as bloggs and wiki. These tools are very useful for creation essay of my students. Why fickr. Com? Because my students and me has strong interest to use picture in courses. Aforesaid recourses are only the first steps, because all sites you provide us with are very interesting and we need time to learn ones.
Finally thank you very much for your great course!
July 20, 2007 at 8:41 am
Sorry you are having problems El Ghassem. To edit a page in the Google Groups click on the “Edit” link at the top of the body of a page. You will need to be logged into Google as a group member for the “Edit” link to display. Let me know if you continue to have problems.
September 14, 2008 at 8:00 am
I am using zigime workspace and its quite good. Its quite different from Google Docs and office live though, but useful. I think it will take some time to become popular, especially among Groups but nowadays people are enjoying to do work in zigime workspace