Collaborative Learning

One of the articles I read for this week was the Lee and Hutton article "Using Interactive Videoconferencing Technology for Global Awareness: The Case of ISIS" in the International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning.  In this article, my attention was on Indiana University's International Studies In Schools (ISIS) program that was a collaboration between Indiana University's Office of International Programs and the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE).  With ISIS, learners interact with people from other cultures or with experts on topics that have global significance.  Such series, such as "European Security Issues in the 21st Century" or "Daily Life in Kenya", give perspective directly from the source.  Teachers contact ISIS to tailor programs that fit their needs.  Whether it is for a geography or a history class, it provides all those involved with a unique learning experience that was not there 15-20 years ago.

No longer is geography or money a barrier in receiving a global education.  I can learn anywhere at anytime.  That's the beauty of it.  And ISIS also offers technical support by Virtual Indiana Classroom Network Operations Support Specialists (VICNOSS).  In interviews from The Case Study at Jamestown, Lee performed an ethnographic study of two middle school classrooms that were using the ISIS program.  He found that teachers provided positive feedback regarding implementation and students were quite interested in the technology.  Of the challenges, the excitement subsided after the initial exposure and there was not sufficient planning in using volunteers for the program.  For more information, you can go to: http://crlt.indiana.edu/isis/ISIS_About%20ISIS.htm.

Some tools that can be used for collaboration are:

1.      Adobe Connect Pro: http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeconnect.html

2.      AnyMeeting: http://www.anymeeting.com/

3.      Collanos: http://www.collanos.com/

4.      ConceptShare: http://www.conceptshare.com/

5.      Google Groups: http://groups.google.com;

6.      Google Docs: http://docs.google.com  

7.      Diigo: http://www.diigo.com/

8.      Dimdim: http://www.dimdim.com/

9.      Elluminate: http://www.elluminate.com/

10.  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/

11.  Google Hangouts: http://www.google.com/

12.  GoToMeeting: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/

13.  GroupTweet: http://www.grouptweet.com/

14.  Ning: http://www.ning.com/

15.  OpenStudy: http://openstudy.com/

16.  PBworks: http://pbworks.com/

17.  SlideRocket: http://www.sliderocket.com/

18.  Skillshare: http://www.skillshare.com/learn  

19.  Skype: http://www.skype.com/

20.  StartWright (virtual teams): http://www.startwright.com/virtual.htm

21.  TwitterGroups: http://twittgroups.com/index.php

22.  TypeWithMe: http://typewith.me/

23.  Twibes (Twitter Groups): http://www.twibes.com/

24.  Twiddla: http://www.twiddla.com/

25.  Twitter: http://twitter.com/

26.  Twitter Groups: http://twittgroups.com/

27.  Ustream: http://www.ustream.tv/

28.  Virtual Edge for Teams: http://www.virtualteams.com/

29.  WebEx: http://www.webex.com/

30.  Wet Paint: http://www.wetpaint.com/

31.  Wikispaces: http://www.wikispaces.com/

32.  Windows Live Groups: http://groups.live.com/

33.  Writeboard: http://writeboard.com/

34.  Yahoo! Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com