The Internet has provided a variety of tools for online collaboration. Static Internet pages, e-mail and threaded discussions have paved the way for asynchronous collaboration between educators and students. Online chats have been an important tool for synchronous collaboration, but these forms of communication are about to be supplanted by the mediums of audio and video. Recent developments have allowed video and audio streams to be compressed into manageable sizes. This, coupled with the proliferation of broadband technologies, has made effective synchronous collaboration possible.
Electronic collaboration is important to consider because it can be done at any time, from anywhere.
It is important to note that one of the goals of this project was to explore how desktop videoconferencing fits into the current landscape of electronic collaboration, not necessarily how it will supplant electronic collaboration as we know it. Some examples are given of three basic types of collaboration with two-way desktop videoconferencing. A cadre of innovative teachers was identified and a two-way videoconferencing system was installed on their classroom computer. This group of K-12 teachers is revising and updating the district technology plan, sharing teaching ideas and lesson plans, and engaging in accountable talk. The School to Careers Committee represents teachers, counselors, administrators and teacher aides from K through 12 levels.