Using web conferencing like Blackboard Collaborate can help maintain focus and engagement for students working on extended group projects. Synchronous meetings allow remote students to participate in typically campus-based activities, while scheduled sessions linked to project milestones let lecturers review objectives and focus groups on upcoming stages. The tool can be integrated into online learning sites with instructions and resources to guide students through long-term collaborative tasks.

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Suggestions from participants of the #durbbu Collaborate Workshop, led by Matt Cornock, E-Learning Development Team, University of York.
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Maintaining focus and engagement on
extended projects.
Students with outside commitments may find
it difficult to participate in group meetings.
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Synchronous contact points to sustain
motivation and assist groups in focusing on
project goals, practising presentations.
Participation by remote students, fostering
inclusion in campus-based activities.
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Blackboard Collaborate can be
linked from within VLE sites,
scaffolded by instructions and
resources that guide students
through an extended task or
longer group project work.
Sessions can be linked to
specific project milestones, with
a lecturer reviewing project
objectives. Open spaces can be
created for groups to use ad
hoc, for project meetings,
enabling remote participation.
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Lecturer
facilitates
review of
project
milestones and
provides focus
for next project
stage.
Scheduled time,
link embedded
within project
materials and
task instructions
on VLE.
Link to open
room available to
project group.
Walkthrough of
group project
presentations
Informal session
for planning,
discussion,
application
screen sharing.