Kollaborate.io

Have you tried Kollaborate.io? Kollaborate.io is a fun little collaboration tool. Think of it as cross between Google Hangouts (multi-way video chat) with canvas-like collaboration (like Prezi).

The center of the interface is a scalable canvas, much like Prezi. On top of the canvas users can import documents, videos, and images. A really unique feature to this tool is the ability to hold text-based conversations around each item placed on the canvas. To add some frosting to the cake, they have also added the ability to draw on the canvas, and display webcam video from all participants (like Google Hangouts).

Videos can be added directly from YouTube with a search widget built into the page. Likewise, Google Images and Flickr images can also be added easily. Files are uploaded from your computer in various images files and .doc, .ppt, and .pdf formats.

If I could improve this tool, I would add the ability to edit documents in real-time with my teammates. It would also be nice to watch the YouTube videos together. As is, each user plays the video on their own and watches it by themselves.  There are definite advantages to both.

If you or your students are looking for a fun tool that will give you a unique collaboration experience this one is definitely worth a try. 

1 line biography project

Students/classes collaborate to gather information on a subject they are studying. In Taboo fashion, students can't repeat any info that has already been given.

The beginning of the biographies are usually facts that come out of their textbook or the usual facts that everybody knows, but as it grows the entries begin to come from different sources and are lesser known facts. If you do this with multiple classes (lots of students), then you are going to have a pretty in-depth biography when it’s finished.

The steps & rules are simple:

• Create a wiki (Google doc, blog, etc) with one page for each person or subject for which the class will study.
• Each student contributes one line of info while also citing their source.
• Once a piece of information has been posted it cannot be repeated. Just like Taboo, students must avoid repeating facts/info.

Once the project is completed your class will have a rich resource that could be used as a study guide or an information source for another project/report.

Subject specific lesson ideas:

English - Author's biographical info.; key points in plot development; examples of a writing style (X) from book/author;

Social Studies - Life of historical figure; war/battle facts; possible causes of the Great Depression;

Science - facts about body sytsems; Biomes

Health/PE - Habits & tendencies that contribute to a sedentary life-style; rules of golf, tennis, etc; list of sports/activities that are life-long;

Foreign language - phrases used in a restraunt (scenario A, B, C);

Have more ideas? Please share by leaving a comment below.