This document discusses how online tools can be used to build collaborative communities for student group work. It describes how students were placed in groups to develop a PowerPoint presentation using online tools for communication and collaboration, including email, NeatChat, Skype and Google Docs. These tools helped the geographically isolated students communicate, collaborate in real-time, and feel more comfortable working together. Social bookmarking sites like Delicious were also introduced to help students organize information and share resources within a community of practice. The document evaluates the benefits and successes of using these online tools to enhance collaboration between students.

1. Building Collaborative Communities
Online
A CSU Learning Initiative
Roy Crotty
Associate Lecturer
School of Information Studies
Charles Sturt University
Diversity Challenge Resilience: School Libraries in Action - The 12th Biennial School
Library Association of Queensland, the 39th International Association of School
Librarianship Annual Conference, incorporating the
14th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship,
Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27 September – 1 October 2010.

2. CONTEXT
Students develop a Powerpoint presentation within a group
situation – groups of 3 or 4
Group members have never met
Group members may never meet
Group membership randomly developed
Members geographically and time isolated
May not have been previously involved in this form of
communication and collaborative activity
Group members have a common task

3. Assignment
Develop a Powerpoint presentation for an editorial panel of a
professional journal NOT associated with teacher librarians
12 -15 slides
Content related to one of four objectives:
Leadership
Organisational theory
Strategic planning
Developing mission statements
Fifth objective – communication & collaboration

4. CBAM Model of Change
Concerns
Based
Adoption
Model

5. Levels of Concern
Non-use / Awareness
Preparation
Mechanical Use
Routine Use
Refinement
Integration
Renewal

6. Communication 1
Students are given the email address of other group members
Asked to introduce themselves
Only required to offer information they feel comfortable to
share
Arrange to meet regularly
Discussion of objective & topic selection begins
“I was so unsure of what to say until I discovered everyone
else felt the same.”

7. Communication 2
Students introduced to Neatchat
Synchronous communication begins
Objective & topic selection completed
Tasks allocated by group members
“ I began to feel more comfortable within myself when I could
communicate with them online. I enjoyed using Neatchat and
waiting for responses to my queries.”
“I can see my students using this tool.”

8. NeatChat

9. Communication 3
Students introduced to Skype
Synchronous group communication
Increasing efficiency of communication
Reducing ‘noise’, increasing information flow
Voice, and possibly facial expression, can now be added

10. Skype Comments
“Wow!”
“And it’s free…”
“Has increased our communication efficiency markedly and the
number of times we meet.”
“These people are now my friends more than just being group
members.”
“I’ve become a Skype junkie.”
“What’s next?”

11. Collaboration
Google Docs is introduced with assistance
Allows online, real-time collaboration
Powerpoint can be uploaded or created on Google Docs
Can be accessed anywhere
Youtube video provides evidence of benefits

12. Communication/Collaboration
Students now have both communication and collaboration
tools
Enhances and empowers the group and each member to
produce a quality product
Ultimate situation:
Group members on Skype simultaneously collaboratively editing
the Powerpoint presentation

13. Levels of Concern
Non-use / Awareness
Preparation
Mechanical Use
Routine Use
Refinement
Integration
Renewal

14. What’s Next?
Sharing within a
Community of
Practice

15. Del.icio.us
Social Bookmarking site
Save all your bookmarks online
Share with other people
Bookmarks can be tagged
Allows tracking of your tagged sites
Others can add to your site

17. Del.icio.us Comments
“No longer are we restricted to a clunky form of sharing with others.”
“I’m a big fan of the transportable office.”
“Sites are handy whichever computer you are using anywhere in the
world.”
“I’ve not had a real need to use it and now I’m addicted.”
“Being able to access one point that holds all the links I need to help
me understand the subject is both time efficient and helps my
organisational skills.”
“This is a must-use site. I will be developing my own for my senior
high school students and sharing with other TLs.”

18. Questions
Roy Crotty
Charles Sturt University
rcrotty@csu.edu.au
roy.crotty (Skype)
02 6933 2703