Image © FuzeBox Software Corporation
When students work in groups for projects outside of school times, they need to be able to collaborate and communicate online simultaneously with all members of the group. Today's technology makes this quite easy. Find the solution that best meets your needs below:
Video Chat
Text Chat
Video Chat
- Wiggio (All platforms)
- Fuze Meeting (iPad)
- FaceTime (iOS & Mac)
- Skype (All platforms)
Text Chat
- Google Docs / Slides / Sheets (All platforms)
- Chatzy (All platforms)
- TodaysMeet (All platforms)
- Facebook chat (All platforms)
- MSN Messenger (All platforms)
Video Chat
Wiggio
Wiggio is a free online service that allows groups to meet, collaborate and share by allowing groups to:
Watch the video below to see how Wiggio is highly valuable for use by students who are participating in group work:
Fuze Meeting for iPad
Fuze Meeting for iPad is a brilliant free app that allows iPad users to create and participate in live video meetings with up to 25 participants. Users can share and annotate content from PowerPoint, Keynote, Word, PDFs, movies and images from an iPad camera roll..
The app is perfect for students to schedule and participate in group work meetings outside of school hours.
The app is perfect for students to schedule and participate in group work meetings outside of school hours.
FaceTime
FaceTime for Apple devices allows users to conduct one-to-one video chat over Wi-Fi from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac to someone else's. It also works over cellular networks on an iPhone or iPad.
Simply install the app and select the email addresses or phone numbers of your contacts.
Skype
Skype is the free video chat program that can used across multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Windows 8 phone and Skype enabled televisions. One-to-one video calls are free, however to make group video calls one user must be a paid premium member.
Skype also allows users to send files such as documents, photos, videos and presentations during a video meeting.
Skype also allows users to send files such as documents, photos, videos and presentations during a video meeting.
Text Chat
Google Docs, Slides & Sheets
Google Docs, Sheets & Slides provides schools with the opportunity to set up collaborative work situations where all students can access the same document, spreadsheet or presentation simultaneously, communicate and collate their work.
Unlike the other text-based services reviewed below, students can save their rich ongoing communication via chatting in a Google Doc or a designated column in Sheets. Their communications will be automatically saved and can be used as evidence in the communication and collaboration process (which teachers can also access if they are added to the list of authorised viewers/moderators).
Unlike the other text-based services reviewed below, students can save their rich ongoing communication via chatting in a Google Doc or a designated column in Sheets. Their communications will be automatically saved and can be used as evidence in the communication and collaboration process (which teachers can also access if they are added to the list of authorised viewers/moderators).
Chatzy
Chatzy is a free online text-based temporary chat service. It is a good alternative to Facebook, Skype, Windows Live, and other messengers because it:
- Has no registration steps - your friends can join instantly
- Has no popup ads
- Does not require Flash or any installation on your computer (= no spyware)
- Works on all major browsers, with any language and through corporate firewalls
- Is simple and easy to use
- Can have an unlimited number of participants, but is limited to 10 unregistered users.
Today's Meet
Today's Meet is a free online text-based temporary chat service.
Simply name the chat room, set the duration that the room will remain open for, then send the weblink to your group members and chat.
Simply name the chat room, set the duration that the room will remain open for, then send the weblink to your group members and chat.