Virtual collaborative work can be used both in digital teaching and in face-to-face events to:
- Gather ideas
- Brainstorm
- Exchange files
- Organize collaborative work
Collaboration can occur between lecturers and students, as well as exclusively among students.
There are various tools available for collaborative work. Since the internet offers a vast array of options and the advantages and disadvantages or differences between the tools are not immediately apparent, we have assembled a selection of tools on this page. The following tools enable collaborative work, including the creation of virtual whiteboards, pinboards, or mind maps.
If you know of other tools that may be of interest to others, please feel free to contact us!
Suggested tools
Collaboard
A virtual whiteboard suitable for (collaborative) brainstorming, idea collecting, mind mapping or concept development.
Advantages:
- Integrated into the Academic Cloud
- Templates (Mind Maps, Diagrams, Charts)
- Possibility to incorporate texts, images, videos
- Content evaluation through a voting feature
- Sharing of a collaboard via email, link or QR code
TaskCards
Tool for creating digital pinboards. A German alternative to Padlet.
Advantages:
- Servers are exclusively located in Germany
- Board types: Pinboard, whiteboard, blog, world map, timeline
- Free version allows for creation of 3 boards
- Students do not need to create an account to edit boards
- Video conferences directly possible in TaskCards
CryptPad
Consistently encrypted and open-source collaboration suite. Creating shared spreadsheets, text documents, Kanban boards, forms and whiteboards is possible.
Advantages:
- Straightforward collaboration without registration
- Simultaneous editing of shared documents
- Servers are located in France
Mindwendel
Simple tool for (spontaneous) collaborative collection of ideas.
Advantages:
- No preparation of account required
- Simple and intuitive
- Easy input of ideas
- Rating, colour marking, and commenting on ideas possible
- After entering a topic, sharing via QR code and link is possible
OrgPad
Tool for creating mind maps.
Advantages:
- Extensive tree structuring possible (boxes in various sizes and colours, fully customizable text, various connection lines, explanations of boxes in the form of texts, images, etc.)
- Special feature: Guided presentation of the board
- 3 boards can be used for free
- Collaborative work with up to 5 people easily possible
- Intuitive controls
Klaxoon
Platform that includes a variety of tools for exchanging ideas with a team, brainstorming or testing knowledge.
Advantages:
- Wide range of features (sessions, boards, memos, activities (quizzes, surveys, ...) and much more)
- Relatively complex, but offers many possibilities
- Free version is only suitable for smaller groups
- Elements can be shared via QR code, link or email
A guide for Klaxoon can be found on the intranet homepage and in TiHoMoodle under #ZELDA/Videokonferenzsysteme.
Microsoft® Teams Whiteboard
The Microsoft®Teams Whiteboard feature provides participants of an online lecture or seminar with a digital canvas where all authorized participants have the ability to draw sketches, write notes or add regular text.
Advantages:
- Microsoft® Teams can be installed via the TiHo's matrix
- During synchronous digital events no additional tool is needed
- Whiteboard can be exported as an image
IMPORTANT:
Using a Microsoft® Teams Whiteboard directly in a meeting is only possible if the meeting is started via an invitation link. In a meeting initiated from a channel, the Microsoft® Teams Whiteboard can only be added to the entire channel.
A guide for Microsoft® Teams Whiteboard can be found on the intranet homepage under "Videokonferenzsysteme" and in TiHoMoodle under #ZELDA/Videokonferenzsysteme.
Important:
Of all the tools we present here on our homepage, we can only recommend the tools or platforms without reservation if there is a framework contract with the TiHo or a campus licence in place. This is noted for each respective tool. For all other tools, we cannot provide a binding legal statement. We recommend reviewing the data protection information provided by the respective producer and, if necessary, contacting the data protection officer of the TiHo.
If you have any questions about tools for virtual collaborative working, please contact:
Dr. Christin Kleinsorgen (Tel: +49 511 953 8054)
Dr. Marina Ille (Tel: +49 511 953 8056)
Johanna Hoischen (Tel: +49 511 953 8075)
