The document discusses various collaboration tools in the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) at GSA including discussion boards, blogs, wikis, and journals. It provides information on how to create each tool, how students can interact with each other using the tools, and things to consider when deciding which tool to use such as the purpose of the communication and whether it will be informal or assessed. The document concludes by emphasizing that there are many ways for students to collaborate and communicate using the VLE and instructors should choose the best tool for their needs and provide clear instructions for students.

1. The VLE @ GSA:
collaboration tools

2. Today’s session:
 Overview
 Course Tools
 Discussion boards
 Blogs
 Wikis
 Journals
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3. Course Tools
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4. Discussion board
 Create in Control Panel, the Create Tool Link in course
menu.
 Useful for themed discussions in student/ user groups.
 Individual fora may have multiple threads.
 Postings can be anonymous or have a name attached.
 Can include multimedia.
 Can be difficult to get students to engage.
 Unread content will be flagged up (in bold).
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5. Discussion board
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6. Discussion board
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7. Blogs
 Blog - visible to all students. All students can post and
see each others posts.
 Journal - private to all students, all students can post.
Students only see their own posts
 Group blog - visible to all students, members of the group
can post. Students not in the group can see it.
 Group journal - visible to members of the group,
members of the group can post. Students not in the
group can NOT see it.
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8. Blogs
 Create in Control Panel, then Create Tool Link in course
menu.
 Can be individual (per student) or for the course
(instructor only).
 Can be assessed.
 Options to include multimedia.
 Students can comment on content.
 Previous content is accessible.
 Content created in current week/ month will be displayed
first.
 Unread content flagged up (bold, pin).
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9. Blogs
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10. Wikis
 Contributions can be assessed.
 Collaboration in one area.
 Options to include multimedia.
 ‘Live’ content.
 When creating, can permit students write access.
 Can view history of contributions.
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11. Wikis
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12. Versions and contributions
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13. Journals
 Contributions can be assessed.
 Collaboration in one area.
 Options to include multimedia.
 ‘Live’ content.
 When creating, can permit students write access.
 Can view history of contributions.
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14. Journals
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15. Summary
 Lots of different ways to collaborate/ communicate in the
VLE – consider which one may work best for you.
 Think about what the purpose of the communication will
be – is it informal? Assessed? What media will you use?
 Give students clear instructions and make the purpose of
your use of the collaboration tool obvious.
 Lots of resources in VLE Help course or please contact
me: v.boyd@gsa.ac.uk
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16. The VLE @ GSA:
collaboration tools