Lesson 5: Tools for Online Collaboration

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Learning Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to:

Define cloud computing Create a group workspace Share a document online Describe a threaded Discussion Update a page on a wiki Add a new post to a blog Describe what is meant by “Web 2.0”

Collaborating Online Online Collaboration tools include:

Personal workspace Group workspace Threaded discussions Wikis Online conferencing Social networking Online file storage

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Online Collaboration Services Examples include:

Google Groups Windows Live SkyDrive Acrobat.com

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Cloud Computing A traditional network

wires everyone at a central location such as a building or a company

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Cloud Computing A cloud network

connects anyone with access to the Internet, all over the world

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Group Workspaces Features vary from service to service, but often

include: Shared files Web pages Threaded discussions Activity updates

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Files in a Google Groups workspace; one is shared with three collaborators

Inviting Members to a Workspace Members need an electronic invitation The group administrator can monitor group invitations

and confirmed memberships

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Invitation tracking for a Google Groups workspace

Sharing Documents File Compatibility

Collaborators must have software which can open the files you share

File Conversion You can convert a file from its native format to a

different format

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A Word 2010 document being converted to work with older versions of Word

Uploading and Downloading You upload and download documents to the group

workspace

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Threaded Discussions Allow posting of connected messages in one or more

series (threads) Members can respond to the original posting, and also

other responses

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Original posting that started the discussion

A reply to a posting

Cloud Applications Cloud applications can run on any Internet-connected

computer Not installed on the hard drive Typically run within a browser window

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A view of Google Docs

Cloud Applications Have fairly simple controls Can create basic documents fairly well

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Toolbar

Menu bar

Sharing Online Documents Most cloud application services let you share

documents with others Some services require others sharing to also have an

account at the same service

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Google docs lets you copy and past a link to share a file with others

Web 2.0 Tools Web 2.0 tools offer enhanced interactivity

Blogs—online journals others can add comments to Wikis—websites others can edit and add to Social Networking—Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. Video Email—Send video messages

without attachments

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Lesson 5: Tools for Online Collaboration