I think that a key technology tool that we have in the world right now for collaboration is Zoom. With all of the things that have needed to be moved online, Zoom was the main way people were able to come together and communicate. As I was looking on the #MSFTEduChat hashtag, I was noticing that a lot of the pictures were people having a meeting on Zoom. This tweet, https://twitter.com/ShramkovaHelen/status/1272968400508203020 , just made me realize how necessary Zoom is during these times. On zoom, the participants are able to talk with others, chat over the messages part, share their screen for the viewers, and turn their camera on or off. If zoom was not around during Covid, learning would have been much more difficult, if not nearly impossible. So after this year, if I have realized anything about the world, it is that Zoom makes collaboration so much easier.

Julie Barron

In the past few years, the educational landscape has shifted dramatically. While trends toward technology as a tool for learning were increasing over the past decade, the pandemic created an instant need for change. Virtual learning is a reality for most students, and as in-person learning resumes, we cannot forget the lessons we have learned along the way.

There are countless ways that educators have used to make virtual learning exciting for their students. Different platforms have allowed students to work together through many of Microsoft’s tools. Video connections, as well as discussion posts and feedback, create a sense of community where students and teachers can connect and work with one another.

It is important to remember that the world is still not quite back to the way it used to be, and it may never be the same again. We need to take the lessons we learned with us moving forward; keep collaborating online and keep making connections around the globe.

Education is a process that never stops. It is not confined to the classroom. If we continue to reach out; there is no end to what we can learn and experience.

Thanks for reading! If you like what you read (or don’t like what you read) let me know! @PatrickWCrowell

Collaboration has had a heavy influence on how a classroom can run. Especially now, online collaboration is vital in classroom settings. Many schools have been running virtually and/or hybrid for the past year or so due to the pandemic. Actively engaging students while making sure they are still meeting the learning requirements can be tough.

Many schools have been utilizing different collaboration tools well before the pandemic, such as Google Classroom and Kahoot. As schools began running remotely, teachers and administration were forced to scramble to find successful tools to keep the schools running. Many districts made use of Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. Connecting with students was hard enough to begin with, but luckily with these tools, it became more manageable. With such tools, educators were able to gather in their “classrooms,” see students faces, and facilitate instruction in a somewhat “normal” mode. Tools such as breakout rooms, screen share, Q & A features, and a raise hand button helped these virtual classes run smoothly.

While things have begun to revert back to a “normal” state, and schools return to in person learning, it is still evident that these new collaboration tools have left a lasting impact on the classroom dynamic. Schools are continuing to utilize these virtual tools to connect with others, as well as keeping schools up and running. It is so interesting to see how such collaboration in the classroom has drastically changed over the years.

Be sure to check out some of the following Collaboration tools:

Microsoft Teams:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software

Zoom:

https://zoom.us/

Google Meet/ Google Classroom:

https://meet.google.com/

https://edu.google.com/products/classroom/

Thanks for reading!

Mackenzie Hickey

Minecraft has taken the game so many fell in love with and has turned it into an extremely interesting, educational tool. Minecraft can already be a very interactive game, but in this version of the game, it takes educational topics and mixes it with that collaboration feature.

In Minecraft: Education Edition, creativity is key. The teacher controls the lesson, just as they would for any other. They control the biome, the environment, the weather; seemingly everything. All the while, students and teachers alike who are in your controlled universe, can communicate and interact just as they would a regular classroom. As they go through quests and explore the world, they’re able to communicate with either the teacher themselves only, or the whole classroom. This opens up a great level of collaboration in the virtual age, where communication and collaboration are often lost. The best part, it’s doing something they already enjoy.

An awesome tool within this interactive, educational game is that they have subject kits. I decided to play around with this edition of the game when I started looking into it and I noticed they had worlds already made. For example, I’m an aspiring history teacher, so I decided to explore their history and culture subject kit. In this kit they had several worlds, ranging from Ancient Egypt to Exploring World War 1. They also had worlds for the Chinese Tang Dynasty Capital and the Jamestown Settlement. There are many, many more but these are the ones I found most interesting. Within these kits are already placed historical figures and the students can go up to them with their character and talk to them. The historical figure in the game will give them information about themselves and their importance. If the student comes up with questions that they may have after the interaction, it is very simple to communicate with the rest of the class or teacher to ask questions.

When I saw this tool, I knew I had to share it. I never heard of it before and upon beginning my own mock trial of it, I was even more inspired. The collaboration potential for these children that are now solely being taught online is astounding. The way the students can interact and feed off one another to complete these educational quests the teacher prepares is creatively brilliant. I definitely look forward to working with this more and exploring all it has to offer. I’m very excited I got a chance to share it and hope it may inspire some others.

I was browsing the web for different articles that focused on group projects in the art field and I stumbled upon an event that was as cute as it was genuine and thought provoking. Pinwheels for Peace is an event founded by art teachers Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan. Both educators worked together on the project and chose pinwheels to represent childhood innocence and play in order to make a statement against the harsh reality that we live in.

From its founding in Monarch High School in Florida, it has grown into a multi school art installation event where students and art teachers celebrate Peace Day by creating their own pinwheels. It’s a wonderful project and I’d be interested in celebrating Peace Day in my own high school classroom in the future. The main takeaway of the event is the promotion of global awareness and what we can do to enhance our understanding of our own inner peace and how harmony between people and nations can bring peace to all.

You can read the article here.