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=EDER679.23 Collaborative Technologies Assignment 3= =Group Collaboration and Communication Tools=

**Group Work Journal**
Assignment 3 was posted in the Blackboard Discussion Group Post on Technology with three areas of interest. Eight participants decided to join the Communication Group by posting in the Communication Tools forum which was one of the three options.
 * //Monday, September 19, 2011//**

A wiki was set up in Wikispaces, called Collab_Technologies, for the process and recording of details. Discussion in the Introductions postings about using a wiki. A post was set up in Blackboard about membership in the Wiki. Participants were invited to join the wiki via the Blackboard Communication Centre. A Discussions - Questions page was set up and a number of questions were set up. They included:
 * //Wednesday, September 21, 2011//**
 * The process of how to meet (Skype was suggested as an audio option), when, and where.
 * How do we wanted to communicate on research, development, other resources, kinds of tools to research, what to present, and how to develop the project.
 * How to communicate on a regular basis and the wiki recorded responses of 'Skype, email, GoogleDocs, the wiki'.
 * Who is going to be responsible for what areas (ie research new and old technologies) with responses; 'to consider at the first meeting'.
 * Made requesting participants members of the wiki.

A References page was set up on the wiki. Numerous emails and Blackboard Discussion posts to make sure all members were aware of the meeting time, the process that had occurred so far, and next steps.

Members were brought on board the wiki as members. Once the group had a look at the Development page, the process became more defined as group members were asked to set up names, email addresses, and Skype names along with the use colour coding to make it easier for other group members to understand who was contributing and how the assignment was moving along. The group also felt it was important to place the different theories, which have been introduced, on to a page here on the wiki to remind viewers that this is part of the process. This, a Learning Theories page was established.
 * //Thursday, September 22, 2011//**

Numerous emails and Blackboard Discussion posts to make sure all members were aware of the meeting time, the process that had occurred so far, and next steps.
 * //Friday, September 22 to September 25, 2011//**

First meeting on Skype on Sunday, September 25, 2011 to decide on a number of issues. Decided to use the wiki as a recording device of research and development activity. Discussion on what types of collaborative technologies to research, approach to research, what types of collaborative technologies. The group settled on four groups, each with two members, to do comparison research on at least two new technologies and on older technology. The content would be set up on the wiki using specific pages. The intent was to get a wide variety of collaboration tools. The groups would do the research and present the findings to other members of the group on the September 29, 2011 Skype meeting.

The four subgroups are:
 * //September 26 to September 29, 2011//**
 * //T1: Edmodo vs.Facebook//**
 * //T2: GoogleDocs vs Alternatives//**
 * //T3: Skype vs Elluminate//**
 * //T4: Twidicate vs Twitter//**

The sub groups are now going to proceed to do their research with emails and placed information on the wiki. Some work was done individually by a subgroup on two different technologies and other subgroups worked together to set up their information. The large group met on Skype on Thursday September 29, 2011 from 7 PM to 9 PM. The subgroups presented their information to the large group. There were discussions on how to improve a specific page for and with a subgroup as well as new ideas which were generated on elements which could be incorporated in the development of a presentation of one of the tools and how they could be used. A new rubric was to be developed and placed on the wiki to have the large group enter content and then have the group decide which tool would be presented in the orientation. There were four actions to be completed in Assignment 3 and the work in the wiki would reflect the research, the findings, and how the tools could be used in a collaborative method and for one or more specific purposes. Group agreed to continue using email to keep updated.

A request was made to Dr. Mayo for specifics of the orientation and time lines for putting it up on the Course Discussion Forum. 1. Dr. M. advised that the asynchronous presentation has to be ready by October 11, 2011. 2. The group plans to use a wiki, and thus a link to the wiki in the Discussion Forum is acceptable. 3. Dr. May advised that the orientation should be contained in the group wiki or, if the intention of the orientation is to show people on how to use the group wiki, the group should have the orientation in the Discussion page on Blackboard (the group can attach a word presentation of the orientation to the message)- if the group feels that a synchronous presentation is required for the orientation, Dr. Mayo asked to let her know the date and time and she would arrange an Elluminate classroom for the group presentation. 4. If the group wishes to do a synchronous meeting, the group is responsible for scheduling a time and date - as close to the due date for the assignment as possible.
 * //Friday, September 29, 2011//**

The collaboration table was introduced and the sub groups were asked to submit information which would be placed in the table to assist the group in making the decision on which tool to present. An email was sent around suggesting Monday evening at 8 PM for the next meeting.
 * //Sunday, October 2, 2011//**

Emails were sent around by the group to ensure that the content got sent and placed in the collaboration table. Other emails were circulated to confirm the meeting time on Skype. The Skype meeting was started at approximately 8 PM. There were at least 2 people who were in the midst of work and who were not able to attend. The Skype meeting with wiki pages was being made into a video via Captivate. This video will be available on the wiki in the Orientation page. General discussion on the amount of detail which had been sent in for the collaboration table. Two groups were working on a summary to be forwarded. General discussion and consensus of using Elluminate as the tool for an orientation to the rest of the class based on the research of the different tools and the approach in terms of use. The group did determine that the orientation would be set up in an orientation page in the wiki and would consist of a synchronous use of Elluminate with the recording available on the Orientation page on the wiki. The group decided that Elluminate would become the tool to be showcased for Assignment 3. The process began regarding the use of a power point presentation which would be presented in an Elluminate session and recorded to provide an orientation session for Elluminate. The group also discussed the possibility of using Camtasia to create a separate video which could be embedded in the wiki.
 * //Monday, October 3, 2011//**

The Elluminate session will be story boarded to provide a comprehensive view of the collaboration tools in Elluminate. This will be done within the next 24 hours and a version of it will be emailed to the group members for information and response. The group will get an Elluminate session via a request to Dr. Mayo. There will be at least 6 to 7 moderators explaining the different tools researched and then a short tour of Elluminate. This Elluminate meeting is to take place on Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 7 PM Email sent around confirming the availability of an Elluminate session for practice and an orientation presentation. The presentation will be recorded in Elluminate and a video will be also made of the presentation. The links will be set up in the Orientation to Elluminate page in the wiki.

The initial power point presentation was developed with a 45 minute face to face by two group members and a one and a half hour session on Skype to go over the power point presentation being brought up in Elluminate and edited as necessary. The draft presentation was then sent out to all group members to give them a chance to go over it. Along with this, the email indicated a sign up chart in the wiki on the Orientation to Elluminate page. The chart was made up and set up on the wiki so members could volunteer their name to discuss a couple of the tools and adjunct material. A wiki page called Collaboration Table has been set up for the placement of the table which is the rubric of the tools studied, the theories behind their use, and the potential application in Communication.
 * //Tuesday, October 4, 2011//**

A couple of group members raised comments on the Orientation to Elluminate page. They had been planning on doing a dry run of their subgroup work which had been set up in the wiki as this had been the original plan. The plan was altered slightly after the dates and elements to be made available were clarified by Dr. Mayo's email to the Communication group. They were asked to meet if necessary at 7 PM on this date on Skype. There were 3 members who came to clarify the situation. The other two had been planning on meeting anyway as a sub group on Skype and the result was an impromptu meeting. All members voiced their understanding of the situation and came away satisfied with the result.
 * //Wednesday, October 5, 2011//**

The presentation will proceed via Elluminate on the Thursday evening at 7 PM with group members involved in it. There is still the possibility that a Camtasia video will also be made and embedded in the wiki on the Orientation to Elluminate page. That page will also have the link to the recorded Elluminate session once it is completed and one member offered to synthesize the session to provide a short summary like an abstract for a research paper. Emails have been sent around especially relating to the extent of video work to be done for the Elluminate presentation tonight and what steps need to be taken to ensure that it goes according to plan. The consensus was that the group can do one or more dry runs prior to the presentation recording.
 * //Thursday, October 6, 2011//**

As many group members as possible got together on Skype just prior to going onto Elluminate. Colleen was teaching and was not able to attend. Jason was having major technical difficulties trying to get on Elluminate as he was trying to do so while chatting with the group on Skype. Greg was not able to make it due to being under the weather. The group joined up on Elluminate and went through 2 dry runs before proceeding with the final recorded run. There were two group members who were able to use Camtasia to capture the Elluminate session. The recorded Elluminate session was set up on The U of C Blackboard system while the group conferred on Skype after the Elluminate session. An email is going to be sent to Dr. Mayo asking about the forum where it is to be presented for discussion and when it needs to be up. The group will be monitoring the Discussion Board and are prepared to respond in a timely manner to any discussion posts with questions or comments. If the group doesn't meet prior to the Thanksgiving weekend, have a good one and don't eat too much turkey.

The group has distributed the Camtasia video and the links have been set up in the wiki in the Orientation page. A post is being made on the Bb Discussion Board (I believe it will show up in the Technology forum unless a new forum and topic have been set up since yesterday.
 * //Friday, October 7, 2011//**