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Technology Collaboration/ Communication Must-Haves for Educators

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Collaboration is the key to clear communication and cooperative learning.  Educators not only need to encourage collaboration in their students, but it is so great to learn from others through building professional learning networks and collaborating outside the classroom/school walls.  So, I'm sharing my favorite resources to encourage collaboration and communication. If you have a favorite, please feel free to share yours in the comments!


Google Drive/Apps for EDU (obviously) - With all the products in Google Drive and the Apps for EDU suite (Docs, Slides, Forms, Sheets, Drawings, Sites, etc.) there is no reason not to collaborate on a daily basis. The easy to use Share button is the key to collaboration and communication!
Smore - An easy to use newsletter/flyer creator. However, it isn't your usual newsletter, it's all virtual.  You don't print a Smore, you send it out via email.  You can embed links, images, and videos into your Smore. I love this site!!  

Lucid Press - Not a graphic designer?  That's OK! You don't need to be one when you use Lucid Press. Easy to use templates for newsletters, brochures, flyers, etc.  You can add collaborators to your project so multiple people can work on it and then, share it out to your colleagues, parents, or students.  Lucid press is the companion to Lucid Chart, which is also a great collaborative chart maker.


Canva - Another easy project maker where no graphic design experience is necessary! Create cards, brochures, flyers, and more! Great art included to just drag and drop into your projects!


Today's Meet - My "go-to" backchannel for collaborating!  You can use this during meetings for questions or comments to the topic.  You can use it in class for students to post questions or expand on the topic.  The great thing is you can save the transcript for everyone to refer back to or for those who missed out on the conversation.  There's now a paid version just for educators. If this is something that you use on a regular basis, it may be worth it to upgrade. 
Poll Everywhere - Quick, easy, polling tool for meetings and classes.  Just post a question and have everyone vote.  It has open ended questioning available, too! 



Padlet - Create a board and have others post to it via virtual sticky notes!  Great brainstorming idea or a way to get resources available on the web for easy access.
Dotstorming - My NEW favorite site for collaboration!  Everyone can post their ideas and you can even have a vote on the best ideas! You can even import a Pinterest board for ideas and voting ideas. Why not start Dotstorming now?
Remind - Available in either web or app form.  Post reminders to staff, parents, students, etc. in an fast and easy way.  Just create your groups and have the members join your group.  It will send texts from you without ever needing to collect phone numbers or share out your own phone number (it will text from a Remind created phone number).  Individual messaging is now available, too!



One Tab (Google Chrome Extension) - Want to share a lot of URLs with parents, students, or fellow colleagues?  Then use One Tab!  It will take all of your open tabs and put them in one easy to use link to share.

  • Aren't using Google Chrome???  Why not??  Just kidding!  If you're not using Google Chrome, you can do the same thing with Link Bunch.

Twitter - Our district will be starting a 20-Day Twitter Challenge beginning November 9th, 2015 to show the power of Twitter for an educational must-have!  Share your learning, curate from others, spread the love of education!




There are so many more ways to collaborate and communicate online!  Please share your favorites!  I will definitely need to make a new post with even more resources very soon!





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