Tools and Resources relating to: Collaborative Spaces

  • Asana - Asana is project management software that allows you to keep track of various projects and tasks. Customization options allow you to personalize the experience to your preferences. There are different layouts for viewing tasks, keeping track of lists, and managing calendars (including social media). Asana allows you to add members to your "team" allowing multiple people to collaborate. One interesting thing to note is that if you sign up for Asana using an email that is known to be associated with a college or university (using a .edu email), you will be able to add multiple projects to your profile, something you cannot do with a standard email profile.   Asana
  • Class Dojo - ClassDojo connects teachers with students and parents to build amazing classroom communities. Teachers can encourage students for any skill or value — whether it's working hard, being kind, helping others or something else. Students can showcase and share their learning by adding photos and videos to their own portfolios. Get parents engaged by sharing photos and videos of wonderful classroom moments. Instantly share photos, videos, and announcements on Class Story, or privately message with any parent. Make random groups of students. Class Dojo Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • Nearpod - Real-time insights into student understanding through interactive lessons, interactive videos, gamification, and activities — all in a single platform.   Nearpod
  • Jamboard - Jamboard is G Suite’s digital whiteboard that offers a rich collaborative experience for teams and classrooms. Watch your creativity unfold: you can create a Jam, edit it from your device, and share it with others. Everybody can collaborate on the Jam anytime, anywhere. For businesses and schools that use Jamboard hardware, you can use your phone or tablet to join or open a Jam on a nearby board. * Draw with various pens and colors to bring your ideas to life.   Jamboard
  • Escapp - Escapp is a web platform for managing educational escape rooms and provides many feature-rich options. Watch the presentation video. Here's an article from IEEE Access about Escapp: Escapp: A Web Platform for Conducting Educational Escape Rooms.   Escapp
  • Social VR Platforms – Places for People to be Together in VR - This page describes just a few of the Social VR Platforms that are emerging. Social VR Platforms are not the Metaverse, but they should be at the heart of it. Many are emerging that can be viewed using a simple browser.   Social VR Platforms - Places for People to be Together in VR    
  • Piazza - Piazza is a free online gathering place where students can ask, answer, and explore 24/7, under the guidance of their instructors.   Piazza Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • lino - Lino is an online bulletin board for a variety of different purposes. Users can use the tool for private works or they can simply create boards that can be visible to the public. It is an ideal tool that enables collaborative working. This sticky note platform lets you add virtual sticky notes to a virtual bulletin board, or "canvas." Each note can contain simple text, and you can add photos. The sticky note feature also serves as a medium for users to be able to communicate. Due dates can be added to sticky notes so that reminders can be sent through email. It also works on mobile devices both for both Android and iOS.   Lino   Keywords: communication, collaboration, teamwork
  • NASA Citizen Science Project - NASA has many numbers of projects that require the collaboration of the citizens to solve the various problems lying under the various projects. The projects comprise the various types of participation depends on the given problem. Some projects require only analytical skills and you can collaborate on those projects by just sitting at your home, whereas some projects require your experimental skill through some outdoor activities. The projects are categorized under the various topics given below: 1.) Universe – Planet hunting, Planet patrol, Backyard planet detection, etc. 2.) Solar system – Astronomical search, Targeting asteroids, Detecting stardust, Detecting disks, etc. 3.) Space experiment – Going beyond earth 4.) Sun – Sungrazer project, Aurorasourus, etc. 5.) Earth – Floating forest, Landslide reporter, Community snow observation, etc. In most of the projects, you just require to join the project and collaborate with the other participants in the project by following some instructions and help the community to achieve the aim ...
  • Icebreaker.Video - Icebreaker videos are a great tool to help promote collaboration for icebreakers, meet-and-greet, or meetups. You can plan your meeting by choosing a topic and conversation games through a template or yourself. Prompt cards make this a fun and fast-paced meeting space. Tiered pricing available and easy to use.   Icebreaker.video 
  • Using Online Whiteboards to Boost Student Engagement and Confidence in Math – Edutopia - This article shares ways to better grasp thought processes in math class by using online whiteboards—web-based tools that enable students to write or type content that teachers can instantly see and share. A few examples of some freely available online whiteboards are also linked to in the article.   Using Online Whiteboards to Boost Student Engagement and Confidence in Math - Edutopia
  • Jeopardy! PowerPoint Template - Jeopardy! The popular game is loved by young and old and even after many years, it's still the number one quiz show for fun TV nights with family and friends. Don't we all love to guess answers and debate how we would handle being in this show? Wouldn't it be awesome to finally feel like a contestant ourselves and play our very own quiz show instead of just watching other people guessing on a flat-screen? Exactly for that reason, we built a new game template that recreates Jeopardy!'s show and includes realistic pictures, questions, and even sounds!   Jeopardy! PowerPoint Template Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • Creating an Online Community, Class or Conference – Quick Tech Guide - This guide is an editable Google Doc that has a wide collection of resources to assist you to create an online community, class or conference. "Are you creating an online course, event or conference? If you’re not a programmer, and if you don’t have a lot of money to spend, this guide will get you started. Read it from top to bottom to get a step-by-step guide to what you can do to set up your course or event. Then check the links to find free or cheap and easy tools that will get the job done for you." The document was initially created and conceived by Stephen Downes, a Canadian philosopher and commentator in the fields of online learning and new media.   Creating an Online Community, Class or Conference - Quick Tech Guide
  • Perusall - Perusall is a platform that allows someone to annotate readings and engage the reading material in a style akin to social media posting. Full comments can be added, users can “like” comments, use hashtags, link URLs to comments, and even use emoticons. -- adapted from Etools: Using Perusall in the Classroom Celeste C Wells, Boston College. Start annotation threads by highlighting text, asking a question, or posting a comment. Replies and comments can also be added to have conversations directly within a document.   Perusall   Keywords: Annotation, collaborative document editing, close reading
  • Stanford d.school - Everyone has the capacity to be creative. The Stanford d.school is a place where people develop problem-solving skills using methods from across the field of design. Resources on this site include toolkits to guide learners through design challenges. Stanford d.school Stanford d.school - Resources How to Design an Education Escape Room    
  • ResearchGate - ResearchGate is a collaboration tool you can use to connect with other researchers. You can learn about new research and post your new research by following and being followed by other researchers in your field. It a good way to know about recent publications and who is working in your field. You can also ask questions and experts can post answers to questions.   ResearchGate
  • Jitsi Meet - Jitsi Meet is an open-source free video conferencing tool. It is very useful for online meetings. It is also available on mobile and desktop platforms. Jitsi Meet
  • Thingiverse - Thingiverse is a collaborative space of creators focused on 3d printing. This platform provides many different designs that can be downloaded and used, downloaded and modified, or remixed and returned to the Thingiverse. There are areas for discussion on the best means to implement designs, ways they can be reused in a new context. The site also shares tips and tricks for getting the best results.   Thingiverse
  • Rules of (Zoom) Engagement by Ali Green - This document, created by Ali Green who is the CEO and co-founder of Pantera Press, provides tips and best practices to help people to adopt appropriate protocols for team meetings as they move from in-person to phone and video conferencing platforms. Topics addressed include reminders about muting when you are not speaking and when it's helpful to keep your video turned on.  Rules of (Zoom) Engagement
  • Virtual Worlds best Practices in Education - Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education is a global grass-roots community event focusing on education in immersive virtual environments. This open conference is organized by the Second Life community to provide an opportunity to showcase the learning that takes place using virtual worlds. Everyone is encouraged to present, attend, and take part in this discussion of collaborative deeper learning and co-presence in virtual worlds and games. The organization holds a virtual conference every year and the VWBPE site has recordings of many of the sessions and access to the prior conference proceedings.   Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education - About 2020 VWBPE Conference archive recordings    
  • Hypothesis - Use Hypothesis to collaboratively annotate, highlight, and tag documents and hold discussions, read socially, organize your research, and take personal notes on webpages, PDFs, and EPUBs. Social reading with collaborative annotation helps people connect to each other and what they’re reading.   Hypothesis   Keywords: collaborative document editing, close reading
  • Toodledo - Toodledo is an incredibly powerful tool to increase your productivity and organize your life. More than just a to-do list, Toodledo provides you with a place to store your notes, outlines, and habits. Access your data on any device or browser. We’ll keep everything up to date with automatic syncing. Toodledo is flexible enough to work with many different productivity styles. You can use the popular GTD methodology, or you can use your own system. You can keep things simple, or you can add as much complexity as you need. Keeping track of your to-do list has never been easier.   Toodledo (info source: https://play.google.com/store/apps )
  • Mega - MEGA provides secure cloud storage and communication. Privacy protection is built-in by design. This service provides end-to-end encryption. In the future, MEGA will continue to develop innovative products and features that complement its existing platform to help improve security on the Internet without compromising on usability.   Mega
  • You Need A Wiki - You Need A Wiki (YNAW) is a simple, yet effective tool for creating a wiki utilizing Google Docs for editing and your Google Drive for storage. This tool is ideal if you work with Google regularly and maintain a Google Drive. You simply create an account and then import folders from Google drive into YNAW. Your folders are converted into a wiki-style page. It is so much easier to read and navigate than clicking through a folder in Google Drive. You can create and edit Docs, Sheets, and Slides directly in YNAW too. There are many wikis that are more powerful and multifunctional, but if you work in Google and want to share and collaborate this is a fantastically simple and easy tool to use. Even if you just want to put some of your most-used folders in a more functional ...
  • LearningApps - LearningApps.org is a Web 2.0 application, to support learning and teaching processes with small interactive modules. Those modules can be used directly in learning materials, but also for self-studying. The aim is to collect reusable building blocks and make them available to everyone. Blocks (called Apps) include no specific framework or a specific learning scenario. The blocks are therefore not suitable as complete lessons or tasks. Instead, they must be embedded in an appropriate teaching scenario.   LearningApps
  • MeisterTask - MeisterTask is an intuitive project and task management tool on the web and mobile. With its powerful collaboration features and flexible, Kanban-style project boards, MeisterTask lets you and your team manage projects of all types and sizes. It keeps you up to date on your project progress and it makes sure that you never lose focus on your to-dos and on your important deadlines.   MeisterTask
  • Online Discussion Boards & Professor’s Presence – 10 Principles & 51 Strategies - This Quick Reference / Best Practice Card for online discussions is adapted from "The Professor’s Manual," by Victoria Nesnick, a Higher Education Faculty Development Consultant. The guide provides research-based guiding principles and strategies to help create and maintain effective presence and interaction between facilitators and participants as related to online discussion board participation. This resource from Dr. Nesnick's collection was made available with her permission.   Online Discussion Boards & Professor’s Presence - 10 Principles & 51 Strategies
  • Google Classroom - A classroom is a place where the knowledge transfer takes place. Usually a one-to-many interaction takes place in a classroom and different assessment tools are used at the end of every topic to evaluate the understanding levels of the students. All these activities which are carried out for centuries inside the physical classrooms are now available with more features and flexibility included in the Google Classroom. Google Classroom makes teaching more productive and meaningful by streamlining assignments, boosting collaboration, and fostering communication. Educators can create classes, distribute assignments, send feedback, and see everything in one place. Classroom also seamlessly integrates with other Google tools like Google Docs and Drive.   Google Classrooms
  • Yalla - Yalla is the most popular Live Group Voice Talking and Entertaining Community. Voice Chat and play games with people from nearby or all over the world. Meet new friends is never easier: Choose group voice rooms from thousands of live rooms daily, filter rooms by Countries or Topics. 50+ Countries have already been covered, while tons of topics are available to choose from. Party with friends with no distances: Group voice-talk with friends no matter where they are, broadcast your favorite music inside the room, sing karaoke together, and play a range of games directly in group chat. Let's get the party started. Enjoy free live voice chat over 3G, 4G, LTE, or WiFi.   Features: PUBLIC CHAT ROOMS — Browse 1,000's of live chat rooms from nearby or around the world that cover thousands of topics. PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS — Start private one-on-one text and voice conversations with your ...
  • Mural - Mural is a digital workspace for visual collaboration. It enables people and innovative teams to think and collaborate visually to solve important problems. People benefit from MURAL’s speed and ease of use in creating diagrams, which are popular in design thinking and agile methodologies, as well as tools to facilitate more impactful meetings and workshops. Through Mural you can work with people across the room or around the world. It uses sticky notes, shapes, links, images, videos, to create, organize in a list, add flowcharts, diagrams, frameworks, methods, and drawings to activate and align your team. Mural also works with many integrations. You can organize your contents from private rooms and open rooms. Note: This is not a free resource but it does provide a free trial period.   Mural   Below are some guides to help you get familiar with Mural: Navigating the Mural ...
  • Splitwise - This application is used to keep track of your shared expenses and balances with housemates, trips, groups, friends, and family.   Splitwise Main features of this application are:- Split Expenses, record debts Equal, unequal splits Calculate total balances Simplify debts Categorize expenses Easy CSV reports Offline mode, cloud sync As per BusinessInsider website: "I never fight with roommates over bills because of this genius expense-splitting app".
  • HelloTalk - HelloTalk is the ultimate for foreign language exchange. Learn a language by chatting with native speakers around the world. HelloTalk is an app that combines social media with education and collaboration. It connects individuals from all over the globe in a single app and helps them learn language from each other. The idea behind the app is, if a Japanese person wants to learn Nepali, and if a Nepali person wants to learn Japanese, they can connect in the app with each other and help each other learn their language. HelloTalk  
  • BigBlueButton - BigBlueButton is an open-source web conferencing system. In addition to various web conferencing services. BigBlueButton supports multiple audio and video sharing, presentations with extended whiteboard capabilities - such as a pointer, zooming and drawing - public and private chat, desktop sharing, integrated VoIP using FreeSWITCH, and support for the presentation of PDF documents and Microsoft Office documents.   BigBlueButton BigBlueButton Wikipedia
  • Animaker - Animaker is an online do-it-yourself (#DIY) animation video maker that brings studio quality presentations within everyone's reach. The software is cloud-based, and was launched in 2014. It allows users to create animated videos using pre-built characters and templates. In 2017, Animaker became the first tool to launch an animated vertical video creator. In February 2015 the software was officially launched based on a freemium model that allowed users a free account option.   Animaker
  • Discord - Discord is a proprietary freeware VoIP, instant messaging and digital distribution platform designed primarily for the video gaming community. It specializes in text, image, video, and audio communication between users via private chat or within communities. Discord has also gained popularity in other communities, including academia. Discord runs on Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Linux, and web browsers.   Discord Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • FreeConferenceCalling - Free Conference Calling does not charge for its conference call service, it's free to use for conference calling anytime. All participants in the conference call dial a toll number, not a toll-free 1-800 number. Any costs incurred are based solely on the caller's long-distance plan with their provider. You can have up to 1,000 callers in a single conference call with up to 25 callers able to speak at any given time. This tool is an alternative for a video webconference when computer technology availability might be questionable.   FreeConferenceCalling
  • New to Working Remotely? These Resources Can Help – LinkedIn free training resources - Almost overnight, remote work has become mainstream. Companies around the world are encouraging their employees to work from home to prioritize the health and safety of their workforce and communities amid coronavirus. Working through this rapid change can be hard and we’re moving quickly to help members get information they can trust, stay connected to their community and learn how to be more productive and successful in their jobs.   New to Working Remotely? These Resources Can Help - LinkedIn free training resources
  • WebEx - Cisco Webex is a web conference tool that enables fully interactive video and audio connections with people locally and around the world. WebEx provides web conferencing and desktop sharing through a web browser. Share whatever you're viewing on your computer with everyone in the meeting. A WebEx account isn't needed to connect to an established meeting. Collaborate in real-time using whiteboarding, note-taking, and annotation tools. WebEx also allows the option for participants to connect to a meeting using a phone. This is helpful when the person does not have access to a computer, if their computer does not have a microphone, to just to get better quality audio on low bandwidth connections.   WebEx   Keywords: webconferencing, webconference
  • Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness (CATME) - The Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness (CATME) is a web-based program designed for use in higher education to promote SMARTER Teamwork prepares students to function effectively in teams and supports faculty as they manage their students' group and team experiences. As an instructor, CATME can help you to: Gather information from students and provide feedback to students. Understand their student teams’ processes, team-members’ contributions, and students’ perspectives on their experience. Be aware of problems occurring in their students’ teams. Hold students accountable for contributing to their teams. Use best practices when managing student team experiences. Note: Creating a CATME account and testing the system is free for all users. Otherwise, there is a licensing fee for using this service. Instructors can create and modify surveys for free using CATME's Student Test Files.    Comprehensive Assessment of Team Member Effectiveness (CATME)
  • What is a Cognitive Tool for Learning? - The idea of a cognitive tool or 'mind tool' was popularized in the 1990s by David Jonassen. It explains that not all educational technologies are beneficial for learning. According to this concept, only educational technologies that help us learn more deeply than before are beneficial. Definition We usually think of an educational technology as a cognitive tool if it supports higher-order cognition. It is contrasted to an educational technology that does not do anything to support higher-order cognition. Examples For example, a calculator might take the full cognitive load of a multiplication task from a student, thereby not supporting cognition but rather making us 'think less'. By contrast, a spreadsheet or mind map may be a tool that helps us think more deeply about a topic. It will help us sort and organize our thoughts so that we can develop theories and deeper understandings ...
  • Telegram - "Telegram is a messaging program with a focus on speed and security, it's super-fast, simple and totally free. It's possible to utilize Telegram on all of your devices at precisely the exact same time -- your own messages sync effortlessly across any range of your phones, tablets or tablets. It's possible to utilize Telegram on smartphones, tablets, and tablets. We've got programs for iOS (6 and over), Android (4.1 and up) along with Windows Phone. You might even utilize Telegram's web version or install one of the desktop programs such as Windows, OSX, and Linux." -- from Quora   Telegram
  • Directory of Learning & Performance Tools – Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies - This searchable Directory has been compiled by Jane Hart. The directory contains over 1,000 entries categorised into 35 headings. This directory compliments the website that shares the Top Tools for Learning compiled from an annual survey sent out through the Centre.   Directory of Learning & Performance Tools – Centre for Learning & Performance Technologies
  • Freedcamp - Freedcamp is freemium project management software for an unrestricted number of projects and users. The company endeavors to deliver an agile experience free of charge to customers worldwide. It’s worth noting that Freedcamp provides all additional features at no cost to teachers and students. Created to accompany Agile methodologies in the software development process, Freedcamp also serves to cover organizational needs in any field and occupation. With a friendly, intuitive and clear interface design it can be used individually and in teams, via web, mobile and desktop. It has a great variety of modules and functionalities that are offered under a free subscription, with the possibility of accessing paid plans in which advanced functionalities are offered. It allows to create projects and track progress and comments in 2 visualization modes: to-do list or sticky notes. Some of the main functionalities in their free mode are: ...
  • WeVu - WeVu, cloud software developed from the Collaborative Learning Annotation System (CLAS) at UBC-Vancouver, focusses on hands-on skills learning where students self-record video using a camera or their phones and instructors provide time-stamped feedback and assessment. Users include health professions, business communication, trades education, and performing arts. WeVu also accommodates the collaborative annotation of audio, images, and PDF. Media files can be uploaded into the software or can be imported from YouTube, Dropbox, or other servers. WeVu also provides user activity logs, allowing .csv download of user activity and time-stamped and general comments. A free version of WeVu is available, limited to 1 site per site owner (unlimited site members) and with videos stored externally on YouTube or Dropbox.   WeVu  
  • Miro – Collaboration without Constraints - Miro (formerly RealtimeBoard) is a visual collaboration platform allowing product managers, designers, developers, and marketers to create, collaborate, and centralize communication across the company on a single online whiteboard. Miro’s marketplace has integrations with over 50 apps allowing users to connect their favorite software. Popular integrations include Microsoft, Atlassian, and Slack. Miro claims to be compatible with virtually any modern device, be it a desktop, tablet, mobile, or whatever. Several pre-built templates are available in the free platform, including brainstorming, quizzes, mind maps, and whiteboards. Miro - Collaboration without Constraints   Keywords: concept maps, mindmaps, wordclouds
  • Seesaw - It is an app and website that offers instructors different assessment methods of students and ways to create interactive lessons for students.  Like other websites that allow for portfolios, students can create their own portfolios while allowing for communication between students, parents, and teachers.  Students can use online tools to demonstrate their creativity and learning.   Seesaw   Keywords: ePortfolio Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • Trello - Trello is an online tool for managing professional projects and personal tasks. Use Trello boards, lists, and cards to organize and prioritize projects and to-do lists. This task management app gives you a visual overview of what is being worked on and who is working on it. Trello is a web-based Kanban-style list-making application, useful in managing and maintaining task using different columns and move the task in between them. Columns are further divided into the to-do, in progress, done, and pending tasks. This tool can be used for personal and business purposes including project management, software project management, school bulletin boards, lesson planning, accounting, web design, gaming, and law office case management. This tool is very useful in the project management settings and since it is an interactive easy to use for the team to be efficiently used in the team environment.   Trello   Keywords: ...
  • Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR) - With academic researchers as the target audience in mind, Directory of Open Access (DOAR) is a platform that conveys the true meaning of open access for full-text resources. It strives to enhance the access of resources so much to not include any site with limited access or sites that contain only metadata records. OpenDOAR is a quality-assured global directory of academic open access repositories. It enables the identification, browsing and search for repositories, based on a range of features, such as location, software or type of material held.   Directory of Open Access Repositories (OpenDOAR)   Keywords: Open Educational Resources (OER)
  • Project Noah | Networked Organisms And Habitats - Project Noah is "a global citizen science platform to discover, share, and identify wildlife. It is a software tool that that nature lovers can use to explore and document local wildlife and share with others. It also provides a common technology platform for research groups, teachers and students interested in wildlife.   Project Noah | Networked Organisms And Habitats   Keywords: Wildlife    
  • Versal - Versal is a 'daily learning platform' with a holistic approach with educators as the target audience, Versal provides an online space for easy presentation of lecture materials with integrated interactive assignments. Versal makes online learning simple enough for anyone to deploy. Blend classroom lectures with interactive assignments, make distance learning more effective,   Versal
  • Ten Tips for Hosting a Web Meeting - This short article from Faculty Focus shares 10 tips for hosting web meetings. Web meetings allow participants to meet online to collaborate and share information. This article is published through the Faculty Focus website, but the tips provided are very relevant to any web meeting. Ten Tips for Hosting a Web Meeting   Keywords: Collaboration, webconference, webconferencing, video-conference
  • WiseMapping - WiseMapping is a web-based mind mapping tool. This tool allows users to create mind maps, share it on a web page, blog, and in social media posts. WiseMapping Keywords: Mindmap, concept map
  • Flippity - Flippity is a series of web apps that can easily turn a Google Spreadsheet into a set of online Flashcards or Quiz Show. There are cards for helping a teacher create random groups, or mix and match activities. Students accomplishments can be tracked using the Badge Tracker and the Certificate Quiz. There is even a Spelling Words that can read the word to you. Other tools include a Timeline, Random Name Picker, Scavenger Hunt, Word Search, Crossword Puzzle, Mad Libs and more. An option is also available to use Flippity without connecting to a Google Sheet.   Flippity
  • Equity Maps - Equity Maps is an iPad app to trace and assess interaction, performance, and involvement in class or group discussions. Chart & record the interactions to graphically illustrate levels of participation. Use in class discussions to encourage equitable dialogue, promote wider collaboration. Questions this app can help you address include: Is everyone sharing air-time? Is someone with many ideas a little too quiet? Is there someone who can't keep quiet? Is the teacher doing most of the talking?   Equity Maps   Keywords: diversity, inclusion, gender equity
  • YoTeach - This anonymous backchannel/chatroom allows text, drawing, photo uploads, and annotating functionality. Easy to use and no login is required. It is advertised as an alternative to TodaysMeet, a popular backchannel tool that is no longer available.   YoTeach   Keywords: chat, backchannel
  • Answer Garden - A tool that can be used for real-time classroom brainstorming or online homework. Can be used in the classroom, for professional development, creativity and more. Results can be displayed in a visual Wordcloud format with the most often used responses showing in relatively larger text-size. AnswerGarden   Keywords: response, polling, wordcloud, audience response, classroom response
  • VideoAnt - VideoAnt is a web-based video annotation tool for mobile and desktop devices. Use VideoAnt to add annotations, or comments, to web-hosted videos. VideoAnt-annotated videos are called “Ants”. VideoAnt   Keywords: peer review, video annotation
  • Freshdesk Help Desk Software - A cloud-based help desk software which helps build relationships with their customers. Freshdesk is an intuitive, easy-to-use helpdesk software that enables efficient businesses processes for better customer experiences. Although a help desk system may fall slightly outside the realm of EmTechMOOC scope, there may be times where a free version of a help desk system could be useful for personal and educational uses.   Freshdesk   Keywords: business
  • LinkedR - Linkreducation is an associated platform in which you find, build, and manage educational & pedagogical collaborations. On this platform, you can add a class, invite students, find a collaborative partner, let students share with a larger group,  explore and assign them work, and the opportunity to exchange and to get feedback. The options are wide open.   Linkreducation
  • RealtimeBoard - A simple whiteboard platform for cross-functional team collaboration. Data, images, spreadsheets, tasks, graphics, videos and more. The Realtime Board combines all of these parts in one place to allow teams or the entire organization to collaborate with each other. There are plenty of collaboration possibilities. Agile & Lean, Action plan, Strategy & Management, Kanban board, Meeting organizer, User story mapping, Gantt chart, Milestone chart, Retrospective, Product Management, Business model canvas, Persona, Product backlog, Six thinking hats, Random words, Empathy map, Timeline, Mindmap, UX & Design, Sitemap, Affinity diagram, Ideation, Wireframing, Lean UX. The image below visually shows just a few of the examples of how this tool can help to visually organize your ideas and processes. RealtimeBoard    Keywords: whiteboard
  • Edmodo - Edmodo is a controlled social media platform for teachers, students, and parents. It allows teachers to assign and grade homework on their mobile devices, students to connect with educators and classmates, and parents to stay up-to-date on what their kids are doing at school. Millions of learners around the world use Edmodo to find the resources they need and connect with educators. Use Edmodo to unite all the tools you already love and ensure your students have access to everything they need for learning. Create a safe space for discussion Edmodo lets you give a voice to shy or anxious students who would go unheard in traditional classrooms. Students are instantly familiar with Edmodo's interface and can communicate more easily with each other and with you. Edmodo   Keywords: Collaboration, Mobile Apps, Open Educational Resources (OER) & Open Access
  • Nozbe - Get things done. Personal scheduling and collaboration with peers. Busy people and effective teams get tasks and projects done thanks to Nozbe system and apps for the Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPad and iPhone. Nozbe has been helping hundreds of thousands of busy professionals and organizations large and small get more done for the last 10 years. Thanks to our intuitive apps you’ll easily become a productivity ninja. You’ll learn how to deal with your incoming tasks, prioritize them, manage them within projects and get them done quickly and effectively. You’ll get easily organized with Nozbe’s famously easy-to-use web interface which works on any screen size! But it gets even better! You’ll be able to get things done anywhere, anyhow and anytime with a free accompanying Nozbe app for your computer, smartphone or tablet: Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, Android, iPad ...
  • Gliffy - Gliffy is a collaborative web-based diagram editor that can be used to create mind maps and other visual organizations of information such as; flow charts, org charts, schematic drawings, floor plans, technical drawings, concept maps, and more.   Gliffy   Keywords: Collaboration, Productivity Tools, Visual Design, mindmap
  • Knovio - Knovio is a web-based application that can record web camera video and attach that video to presentation slides from Microsoft PowerPoint or image files. Overall it's a great way to get “virtual lectures” created in a quick and efficient manner. Educators: Deliver highly interactive, video-led teaching experiences with video presentations. It's the fast and easy way to share lectures and research insights, teaching notes and classroom instructions. Quickly measure learning outcomes with a 360° view of student engagement and activity. and have students record their own video presentations. Students: Add your personality and passion to your next assignment using video, audio narration and interactive features. Record your assignments and share them with team members and professors. Rehearse and review your big presentations and create unique multimedia experiences for job applications and internships.   Knovio   Keywords: Media, Presentations, Quiz Recording, Screencast, Video
  • OverLeaf - Overleaf is an online LaTeX and Rich Text collaborative writing and publishing tool that makes the whole process of writing, editing and publishing scientific documents much quicker and easier. Real-time collaboration in your browser: The convenience of an easy-to-use WYSIWYG manuscript editor, with real-time collaboration and structured, fully typeset output produced automatically in the background as you type. Prefer to edit directly in LaTeX? Overleaf provides a full collaborative online LaTeX editor you can switch to at any time.   Overleaf   Keywords: Collaboration, Presentations, Productivity Tools, Publishing
  • Med-Tech Innovation News - This website is the UK and Ireland leading publication for medical design and manufacturing technology and innovation. Their expert editorial team brings together daily news, technical content, analysis, case studies and high-profile interviews with industry experts and thought leaders. Med-Tech Innovation News provides intelligence for professionals involved in the design and production of Class I, II & III medical engineering and manufacturing community with the latest innovations in technology, materials, processes, digital health, and R&D.   Med-Tech Innovation News   Keywords: Blogs, Digital Literacy, Lifelong Learning, Resource Library  
  • Hootsuite - Hootsuite is a social media management tool that allows users to schedule social media post, follow and engage in conversations and review social media campaign analytics.  It supports social network integrations for Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ and YouTube.   Hootsuite   Hootsuite Quick Start Guide The Beginner’s Guide to Hootsuite 7 Reasons Why You SHOULD Use Hootsuite   Keywords: Collaboration, Social Media
  • SLACK - Team collaboration and communication. Some of the built-in features of Slack include messaging, file sharing, Project management, to-do lists, and more. The features of Slack are extendible through integrations and bots, which add the functionality of pulling reports, starting phone calls, filing tickets, calendaring, polling, and many advanced other options.   Slack   Keywords: Collaboration, Productivity Tools, audience response, classroom response Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • Flip - Flip (formerly FlipGrid) is a video discussion platform that allows students to record responses to teacher-posed questions or topics. This software was recently acquired by Microsoft and it has recently been changed to be a freely available tool. FlipGripd is similar to the popular VoiceThread.   Flip Keywords: Collaboration Review Accessibility/Security Info
  • Business Balls – Free Online Learning and Development Website - Business Balls is a free ethical learning and development resource for people and organizations. It is one of the most mind-boggling collections of free management training materials that you'll find on the Internet. New features include badges, learning plans linked to accredited competency frameworks, wikis (for collaborative content development), fresh content from international thought leaders and academics, and dynamic quizzes (to complement Quizballs.com). The concept began last century as an experimental online collection of learning and development ideas. The website is now used by about a million people each month. The philosophy of the website is intended to be ethical, practical, innovative, compassionate, and enjoyable.   BusinessBalls   Make sure to also visit the Self-awareness Section   Below is an example of Critical Thinking Types according to "Howard Gardner - Theory of Learning that called 'Multiple Intelligence Theory' in the learning process to perceive information".    Keywords: Digital Footprint/Identity, Digital Literacy, ...
  • Geocaching – The Largest Treasure Hunt Game - Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world. A typical cache is a small waterproof container containing a logbook and sometimes a pen or pencil. The geocacher signs the log with their established code name and dates it, in order to prove that they found the cache. After signing the log, the cache must be placed back exactly where the person found it. Larger containers such as plastic storage containers (Tupperware or similar) or ammunition boxes can also contain items for trading, such as toys or trinkets, usually of more sentimental worth than financial. Geocaching shares many aspects with benchmarking, trigpointing, orienteering, treasure-hunting, letterboxing, waymarking, and Munzee. Geocaches For the traditional geocache, a geocacher will place a waterproof container containing a log book ...
  • OpenSimulator – Design your own Virtual Reality space for education, meetings, or games - The open source movement allowed complex avatar-based, game-engine software to become available free of charge using OpenSimulator.  Contributions from artists and designers now makes pre-developed virtual artifacts and design spaces available to educators, meeting planners, and game designers; easy modifications and adjustments allow for custom virtual environments for an infinity of purposes. Server rental companies, such as Kitely, are now making it possible to have up to 40 avatars at any time on up to 4 virtual islands for $20 per month; and, you can put a virtual island on your own institutional server (for free, sort-of).  This link brings you to a theory-and-practice based resource on outlines education uses and possibilities with these environments that have been used by its author for over 10 years in her own teaching. Here's a student during the creative learning/practice stage in a course where she ...
  • PBWorks - PBWorks offers a variety of collaboration tools including free wikis for education. Editing and formatting of the wiki is very easy and needs only minimal instruction. Students can collaborate on projects outside of the classroom. Student accounts can be created without email addresses. Educators can get automated notifications to see when and how often students access their wiki page. Wikis can also be used to store, discuss, search and share wiki pages, files, and documents.   PBWorks   Keywords: Collaboration, Websites, Wikis
  • Glogster - Glogster is a cloud-based (SaaS) platform for presentation and interactive learning. It allows users to mix all kinds of media on a virtual canvas to create multimedia posters, and access a library of engaging educational content created by students and educators worldwide. Glogster encourages interactive, collaborative education and digital literacy. Note that there are a number of limitations when using the free version of Glogster.   Glogster   Keywords: Media
  • OneDrive - OneDrive is a file hosting service that allows users to upload and sync files to a cloud storage and then access them from a web browser or their local device.   OneDrive   OneDrive Help Center   Keywords: Collaboration, File Management, Productivity Tools
  • ShareLaTeX - ShareLaTeX is an online LaTeX editor which allows for real-time collaboration and online compiling of projects to PDF format. Unlike the similar service writeLaTeX, ShareLaTeX requires registration and all projects are inherently private.   ShareLaTeX   Beginner's Tutorial for ShareLaTeX   Keywords: Collaboration, Publishing, Websites
  • TED Talk: Creative collaboration — a 21st century imperative - "Paul Roe plays the clarinet and has particular musical interests in performance, coaching, research, education and participative music making. Paul's talk is entitled Creative Collaboration -- A 21st Century Imperative. His talk begins with a short performance. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event."   TEDTalk - Creative collaboration -- a 21st century imperative: Paul Roe at TEDx Fulbright Dublin   Keywords: Collaboration, Lifelong Learning
  • WhatsApp - This app is a cross-platform messaging and Voice over IP service that can be used to send text messages and voice calls, as well as video calls, images and other media.   WhatsApp Keywords: Audio, Collaboration, Video  
  • Pocket - Pocket was developed to help people save interesting articles, videos and more from the web for later enjoyment. Once saved to Pocket, the list of content is visible on any device — phone, tablet or computer. It is free and available for major devices and platforms including iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac, Kindle Fire, Kobo, Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, and Windows. It is integrated into current versions of Firefox and there are browser extensions for other browsers such as Chrome. One of its more unique features is that it gives you a clean look at the documents you save minus the advertisements and other extras. That makes it easier to print and share.   Pocket   A Review of Pocket Chrome Browser Extension & Android App Keywords: Collaboration, Lifelong Learning, Presentations, Productivity Tools, Resource Library  
  • Google Docs Voice Typing - In Google Docs you can type with your voice instead of your fingers by using the Voice Typing tool, turning voice into written word. In addition to straight dictation, this tool enables you to edit a document. Some examples include highlighting text, inserting a link, deleting words, changing text layout, or adding comments.   Google Docs - Type with your voice   How to use Google Docs Dictation   Keywords: Audio, Blogs, Digital Literacy, Mobile Apps, Presentations, Productivity Tools, Wikis  
  • Facebook - Facebook is a well-known and free to use social networking platform. Utilizing Facebook can help you connect, share and market to people. User groups based on common interests, workplace, and more can provide you new methods to communicate. Now very often seen in news media, Facebook and other social media platforms are commonly used to give voice to social issues, customize marketing on an individual level, and further the spread of both news and fake news.   Facebook   Facebook tutorial - This tutorial will walk you through the set-up process, available features through the privacy settings and controls, essential to any social media platform. Branding in the age of social media - Learn more about branding yourself via social media from this Harvard Business Review article.   Keywords: Collaboration, Digital Footprint/Identity, Media, Social Media
  • Zotero - Zotero is citation management software that is available as a stand-alone desktop application and also as a browser add-on. Since most searches are performed with a browser Zotero provides a seamless way to manage your citations. Zotero is well suited to organize scholarly literature such as books and articles. You can also add PDFs, images, audio, and video files. Zotero allows you to organize, tag, highlight, and add comments/notes about the items. Zotero allows you to create workgroups and share resources online, either with a private group or publicly. One of the many benefits of Zotero is that it is easier to learn and navigate than Endnote, which is a commonly used commercially available citation manager.   Zotero   Zotero Quick Start Guide - A quick help guide to the Zotero interface.   Keywords: Collaboration, Resource Library, Searching
  • Diigo - Diigo is the tagging and social bookmarking site. Registered Diigo users can bookmark, tag and highlight webpages with the key feature of adding annotations. For collaborative projects, you can share those annotations with a group or create a share link to send to outside users. The social tagging feature has created a collection of quality content with the opportunity to find and connect with those with shared interests in the field.   Diigo   Watch this video about using Diigo to collect, highlight and select. (3 min. 36 sec.)  Diigo - Tour - Annotate Archive Organize - This page summarizes how Diigo works and some of the highlights of the tool. Using Diigo to Annotate, Archive, & Organize Student Learning with Diigo Apply for a Diigo Educator Upgrade to request a special premium account provided specifically to educators. Note: To get quick access to your Diigo libraries and be able to ...
  • Prezi Classic and Prezi Next - A "zooming presentation tool" that presents information non-linearly. It is an infinite whiteboard where the audience can see and interact with an overview of a topic or zoom in to see the relationship between topics. Prezi allows presenters to provide not only the big picture but takes it a step further to allow viewers to dissect each component. this web-based presentation tool allows you to edit, collaborate, and present online. Prezi is a Hungarian presentation software company founded in 2009, with offices in Budapest, Berlin, San Francisco, and Riga.   Prezi   Prezi Next Vs. Classic: Your Questions Answered - Because Prezi has debuted a new version---Prezi Next---current users should compare the Next with what is being called Prezi Classic. Both versions have educational plans. 7 Alternative Technology in the Classroom Presentation Tools - This blog entry from TeachHub touches upon Prezi in the list of ...
  • Fuze – Web Conferencing - Fuze is a web conferencing platform that supports up to 25 participants in a single meeting without charge. Fuze   Keywords: Audio, Collaboration, Mobile Apps, Screencast, Video
  • Zoom - Zoom is a video conferencing and web conferencing service that provides video, phone, and chat services. The basic package is free and hosts up to 100 participants, and an unlimited number of meetings. The basic package includes video conferencing, web conferencing, and group collaboration features such as polling and whiteboards. ZOOM has been noted to be more reliable and easier to use than competing software. The use of the platform is free for video conferences of up to 100 participants, with a 40-minute time limit. For longer or larger conferences with more features, paid subscriptions are available. Features geared towards business conferences, such as Zoom Rooms for large audiences, are also available at higher subscription costs.   Zoom   Keywords: Audio, Collaboration, Mobile Apps, Recording, Screencast, Video, Webinar, webconference, webconferencing
  • AnyMeeting - AnyMeeting offers webconferencing and webinar services. It enables users to host and attend web-based conferences and meetings and share their computer screen with remote users via the Web. AnyMeeting is geared for small businesses and different packages are offered. There is a free Lite version.   AnyMeeting   Keywords: Audio, Collaboration, File Management, Mobile Apps, Screencast, Video, webconference
  • VoiceThread - A VoiceThread is a collaborative, multimedia slide show that holds images, documents, and videos and allows people to navigate slides and leave comments in multiple ways - using voice (with a mic or telephone), text, audio file, or video (via a webcam). Share a VoiceThread with friends, students, and colleagues for them to record comments too. The free version allows you to create up to 5 VoiceThreads, comment by microphone and text, and share your VoiceThreads via a share link.   VoiceThread   Creating a VoiceThread - This guide from VoiceThread will walk you through setting up and all the features available. Keywords: Audio, Collaboration, ePortfolios, Media, Recording, Video Review Accessibility/Security Info  
  • Google Meet - Google Meet is a webconferencing platform that includes instant messaging, voice, and video calls. It is useful for individual and group conversations. Technology that connects us while we're apart and video meetings can bring us together—whether we’re working with teammates, talking to healthcare professionals, sharing with loved ones, or learning from home. Note: Google Meet has replaced Google Hangouts within G Suite.   Google Meet   Review of Google Hangouts - This review discusses the pros and cons of Google Hangouts, features, and tips for getting started.   Keywords: Audio, Collaboration, File Management, Mobile Apps, Video, Webconference, Web meeting
  • Padlet - Padlet is an online virtual bulletin board, where students and teachers can collaborate, reflect, and share links and pictures, in a secure location. Padlet allows users to create a hidden wall with a custom URL. Padlet creators can also moderate posts, remove posts, and manage their boards. Note: Padlet is one of the few tools that can be used by a learner on a Padlet without signing in. However, it should be noted that an account is created to be a Padlet "creator" and the data that is shared to create an account is not always limited to within Padlet.   Padlet   30 Creative Ways to Use Padlets for Teachers and Students - An article that discusses the many uses of Padlet as well as how to create one. Padlet - Best of Education - A collection of the "best" Padlets within the realm of ...
  • Zoho Wiki - Zoho Wiki is a free online tool to create collaborative web portals. No downloads, no installation, no special IT infrastructure, no need for IT experts, no webmasters. You can access your wiki anywhere, anytime. Wikis are offered as a knowledge management tool, for which multiple users can be added as collaborators. These wikis are ideal for small teams, closed groups, intranets, etc.   Zoho Wiki   FAQ and Help Page for Zoho Wiki - This is the ZohoWiki help and FAQ page.   Keywords: Collaboration, ePortfolios, Productivity Tools, Publishing, Websites, Wikis