{"id":49710,"date":"2021-10-19T04:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T11:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=49710"},"modified":"2025-06-27T00:30:40","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T07:30:40","slug":"5-ways-to-encourage-online-collaboration-with-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/5-ways-to-encourage-online-collaboration-with-students\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways to encourage online collaboration with students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Highlights:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Distance learning can make collaboration with and among students challenging, but encouraging online collaboration is essential to student success.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online collaboration calls for a different approach than educators might take in a physical classroom.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the first interaction with students, educators can encourage open discussion of what is expected regarding collaboration and communication.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using the right collaboration tools can help students interact and learn from each other.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may feel like <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">d\u00e9j\u00e0 vu<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, but it\u2019s here and happening: the approach of another semester dominated by distance learning and online lectures.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Students and teachers may sigh, but if there\u2019s any good news, it\u2019s that the past eighteen months have taught us much about building a conducive learning environment in the digital realm with the right online collaboration tools for education.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"rc-post-content-cta rc-post-content-cta_green\">\n<div class=\"rc-post-content-cta-columns\">\n<div class=\"bottom-cta-img\">\n\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1302\" height=\"1162\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/online-collaboration-tools-students.png\" class=\"responsive-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"bottom-cta-copy\">\n<div class=\"headline-copy\" style=\"text-align:left;\">5 online collaboration tools for students<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"rc-post-content-cta-footer\">\n<div class=\"bottom-cta-logo-container\">\n<div class=\"bottom-cta-logo\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"154\" height=\"34\" viewBox=\"0 0 154 34\" fill=\"#000\" role=\"img\" aria-labelledby=\"cta-ring-logo-1199794617\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<title id=\"cta-ring-logo-1199794617\">Ring Central Logo<\/title>\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M154 3.89618H150.386V26.9657H154V3.89618Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M141.313 11.6299C137.976 11.6299 135.388 13.2501 134.95 16.5546H138.504C138.754 15.3082 139.675 14.5591 141.313 14.5591C143.214 14.5591 144.086 15.6499 144.086 17.3647V18.1444H140.438C137.078 18.1444 134.593 19.6411 134.593 22.697C134.593 25.7529 136.619 27.3411 139.55 27.3411C141.826 27.3411 143.323 26.3721 144.133 24.8145H144.288V26.9529H147.716V17.4802C147.702 13.8276 145.833 11.6299 141.313 11.6299ZM140.58 24.5675C139.177 24.5675 138.303 23.8809 138.303 22.7339C138.303 21.4233 139.238 20.7383 140.921 20.7383H144.069L144.086 20.9549C144.088 23.2232 142.777 24.5675 140.58 24.5675Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M128.187 26.9657V19.2047C128.187 16.8979 129.623 15.4317 131.896 15.4317H133.321V12.0036H131.854C130.14 12.0036 128.893 12.6581 128.114 14.1243H127.988V12.0036H124.591V26.9753L128.187 26.9657Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M122.295 23.6627V26.9657H119.833C116.371 26.9657 114.47 25.3615 114.47 21.8997V14.9729H112.008V12.0036H114.47V8.03009H118.088V12.002H122.295V14.9713H118.088V21.4794C118.088 22.851 118.898 23.6611 120.269 23.6611H122.295V23.6627Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M100.161 26.9657V18.3C100.161 16.1793 101.472 14.7917 103.589 14.7917C105.615 14.7917 106.831 15.9627 106.831 18.2535V26.9657H110.452V17.6776C110.452 13.9046 108.618 11.6299 104.872 11.6299C102.593 11.6299 100.851 12.6565 100.073 14.0586H99.9444V12.0036H96.5548V26.9753L100.161 26.9657Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M86.8688 24.3814C84.5925 24.3814 83.0638 22.8542 83.0028 20.4528H94.0699L94.0539 19.2833C94.0539 14.2655 90.8119 11.6443 86.8512 11.6443C82.5729 11.6443 79.448 14.7002 79.448 19.4999C79.448 24.2996 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d=\"M16.9769 0.548269C16.101 0.914019 15.307 1.44981 14.6364 2.12196L16.332 3.81756C16.7764 3.37 17.3041 3.01548 17.8865 2.77325C18.4688 2.53102 19.0928 2.40429 19.7232 2.40269C20.3537 2.40108 20.9777 2.523 21.5616 2.76362C22.1439 3.00264 22.6749 3.35556 23.1225 3.79991L24.8181 2.10431C23.8106 1.1001 22.5289 0.415123 21.1333 0.139206C19.7377 -0.139919 18.2907 0.00285184 16.9769 0.548269Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"bottom-cta-link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/netstorage.ringcentral.com\/documents\/5_online_collaboration_tools_students.pdf\" class=\"view-all view-all-white \" data-dl-name=\"Learn more now\" data-dl-element=\"button\" data-dl-additional-info=\"bottom cta banner\" data-no-auto-dl=\"true\">Learn more now<span class=\"svg-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"#000\" role=\"img\" aria-labelledby=\"cta-ring-arrow-1199794617\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<title id=\"cta-ring-arrow-1199794617\">Ring Central Logo<\/title>\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<path d=\"M0 11.5C0 11.2239 0.223858 11 0.5 11H21.6797C21.9559 11 22.1797 11.2239 22.1797 11.5V12.5C22.1797 12.7761 21.9559 13 21.6797 13H0.5C0.223858 13 0 12.7761 0 12.5V11.5Z\" ><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M21.1718 12.0001L15.8086 6.63691C15.6134 6.44165 15.6134 6.12506 15.8086 5.9298L16.5157 5.22269C16.711 5.02743 17.0276 5.02743 17.2228 5.22269L23.6467 11.6465C23.8419 11.8418 23.8419 12.1584 23.6467 12.3536L17.2228 18.7775C17.0276 18.9727 16.711 18.9727 16.5157 18.7775L15.8086 18.0704C15.6134 17.8751 15.6134 17.5585 15.8086 17.3633L21.1718 12.0001Z\" ><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg><\/span><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The absolute key is attention retention; when it\u2019s easier than ever for students to browse Facebook or Instagram during class, you can\u2019t take their attention for granted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So how do you earn it?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The answer lies in interaction and discussion. Whenever possible, keep lectures at a minimum and foster a culture of collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easier said than done? Maybe. But here are five ways to help you get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>1. Let students set new norms<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s a mistake to assume that the digital classroom is simply the physical classroom in another dimension. It\u2019s an entirely different space, facing different challenges and governed by different rules.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What that means is that you\u2019ll have to set new norms, and it\u2019s best if the students have a say.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are students looking to get from this class? What do they expect from each other? What do they expect from the educator? What can the educator expect from them?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discuss this, but don&#8217;t stop there.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Publish the norms; a concrete manifestation will not only keep them alive, but it will also serve as a physical reminder of the democratic process and help students feel empowered and involved.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reflect upon the norms. In the face of unprecedented situations, should they be changed? Talk about that. Revise the norms if necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ultimate goal is to build a sense of community, a crucial first step in fostering a culture of collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Let students humanize themselves<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second step of this process is humanization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re all familiar with the traditional first-day-of-term routine: the icebreakers, the introductions, the obligatory fun facts. It may be cheesy, and students may groan, but this is a good first step to establishing unknown classmates as real people with distinct interests.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even throughout the term, students have a litany of random encounters with one another; they borrow pencils, or exchange pieces of paper, or make quiet jokes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These things don\u2019t happen so naturally online, so teachers must find ways to replicate the experience digitally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let students introduce themselves. Let them make jokes. If a dog or cat should intrude onto the screen, acknowledge it. Educator Matthew Kay recommends a daily ritual he calls \u201chouse talk,\u201d a five-minute period in which students are free to talk about their general lives.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fostering mutual respect and interest is critical to building a culture of online collaboration. Students must understand that there is value in communicating with their peers, and they must feel comfortable encouraging that communication. For that to be so, they must acknowledge each other\u2019s humanity.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>3. Empower students to teach each other<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sometimes referred to as the \u201cjigsaw method,\u201d this method relies on the contributions of each individual student to form a greater intellectual picture. Studies consistently indicate that one of the best ways to learn the material is to share it with others\u2014that is to say, to teach it.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Divide students into breakout rooms\u2014four per room is a good number\u2014and assign each member a different aspect of any given topic. Once they\u2019ve done their research, let each member share with the others what they\u2019ve learned, and allow other members to ask questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only does this technique improve information retention, but students will likely draw connections and form conclusions they wouldn\u2019t have gotten from reading a textbook or watching a lecture. That\u2019s the power of organic collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-49712\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/online-collaboration-students.png\" alt=\"RingCentral for Education\" width=\"930\" height=\"620\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b>4. Brainwrite before a colloquium<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">colloquium<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is essentially a meeting for academic discussion, often organized around a particular topic. It\u2019s a powerful tool for engaging students, but to awaken its full potential, you ought to consider using <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">brainwriting<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Brainwriting is when students consider a discussion topic before class, brainstorming ideas in their own time, and submitting them before the greater discussion begins.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before class, look at students\u2019 responses and pick three or four of the most intriguing responses. When the conversation lulls, share one of these perspectives to get the ball rolling again. In short, brainwriting ensures a diversity of opinions and prevents \u201canchoring,\u201d the phenomenon by which an initially shared perspective biases the rest of the conversation in that direction.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also helps quieter students participate in the discussion, as ideas they might hesitate to express in person are introduced through the brainwriting process.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>5. Encourage peer revision<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Teachers often downplay this fact, but peer revision is already happening. Students constantly share their work with their friends or respected colleagues, particularly at the higher levels. (If a peer finds a typo or logical inconsistency, it may be embarrassing, but it won\u2019t sink their grades.)<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take this one step further. Pair students anonymously and have them review each other\u2019s work. This lets each student, including shy ones, benefit from individualized attention and consideration. Even better, this technique cements the value of obtaining their peers\u2019 opinions. \u201cHey,\u201d they might think, \u201cI didn\u2019t consider that\u2014what an intriguing idea.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The result? Students will gain a more developed appreciation for their colleagues. This should encourage them to seek each other\u2019s opinions more frequently, and more willingly, without your prompting\u2014a key victory for fostering a sense of digital community.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-49713\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/collaboration-education.png\" alt=\"RingCentral for education\" width=\"930\" height=\"620\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To say that the past eighteen months have been difficult would be an understatement. Teachers are exhausted. Students are not only exhausted, but they\u2019re also disappointed. This is not what they imagined higher education to be.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But while it may be clich\u00e9d to say that every cloud has a silver lining, the digital realm offers numerous opportunities. The techniques mentioned above will help draw out students\u2019 potential, allowing them to develop and grow.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most of all, be kind to students and to yourself. This will encourage collaboration like nothing else.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Let RingCentral help you connect and collaborate<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u200bTo encourage real collaboration between students, it&#8217;s also important to have the underlying technology in place to support it. RingCentral leads the way in bringing cloud-based unified communications solutions to institutions of higher learning.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/view_demo.html?__mscta=2882_89098_13002\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get a demo today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see what&#8217;s available.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Highlights: Distance learning can make collaboration with and among students challenging, but encouraging online collaboration is essential to student success. Online collaboration calls for a different approach than educators might take in a physical classroom. From the first interaction with students, educators can encourage open discussion of what is expected regarding collaboration and communication. Using &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1020,"featured_media":49711,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18755],"tags":[5119,15150],"class_list":["post-49710","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-education","tag-unified-communications-solution"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>5 ways to encourage online collaboration with students | RingCentral Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Distance learning presents growth opportunities. 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