Use of Collaboration Tool and Report Summary

Objectives:

1. To be able to identify several collaboration tools and be able to use them in our projects, not only in our SOC-MED class but in other subjects as well.
2. To be able to identify possible complications and difficulties using a certain tool in collaboration.
3. To be able to work together efficiently and effectively even if we can’t meet in personal and even if we have different and complex schedules.
4. To be able to compare different collaboration tools and identify which tool best suits our needs as a group.
5. To be able to recommend collaboration tools applicable depending on the task our group needs.
6. To promote the maximization of various social media tools in every way possible

Learnings:

1. Google Docs

Google docs is the most popular and most convenient online collaboration tool that the group agreed to use. Since we have used this in some of our subjects in the past and we know how this tool works, the group unanimously decided to use this as our collaboration tool. It has real time editing that enables the members to contribute to the document simultaneously which is a good thing. This makes our discussion easier and more productive.

A problem may be situated here is its complexity. Some people may have a hard time using Google docs for collaboration. Though it also looks like a Microsoft Word document, some people may still find it confusing because of its complex settings like formatting as the document differs when it is transferred to Microsoft Word.



2. Facebook Group page

As students and teenagers, we are fond of using Facebook everyday. It has been part of our routine to check our Facebook accounts. So we have thought of creating a group page for SOCMED so that we would be aware of the assignments, seat works, projects and deadlines for SOCMED. This has been very effective, for you cannot only post announcements and tasks but also, you can communicate with your group mates as well.

Facebook group page is also similar to Google Docs. Facebook allows a group to create a document and allow its members to edit everything in it. But compared to Google Docs, Facebook is limited when it comes to features. You cannot know who edited a part, limited font settings, limited style settings and a whole lot more.

Facebook Group page also allows you to post links, photos, videos and poll questions for the members to have a better grasp of a tackled topic or an issue.

Another negative issue with Facebook pages is that, there are instances members are not focused on the work already. They tend to browse other Facebook pages, games and other applications. It may be distracting for users who don’t know how to focus or users who easily get bored.

3. Yahoo Messenger (Conference)

Yahoo Messenger is used as a meduim of communitcation as it is a chat application and all of the group members uses this softaware . also in yahoo messenger there is a  feature that can be called as a collaboration tool since it connects different user to one chat room to collaborate and that is as they call it, Conference. using the conference feature many users can interact with each other with chat and voice call.

Limitations of using yahoo messenger is that if the user is not online you cannot chat with your contacts in the conference.

Another issue regarding Yahoo Messenger is that when a user gets disconnected, the user will be disconnected in the conference as well. You have to invite the user again, and since the user’s offline, he or she will miss everything and have to ask members what he or she missed. It takes a lot of time and effort for the group trying to explain everything again.


Conclusion:
Nowadays, students are always online in the internet world. Collaboration tools contributed a huge part to students' collaborations with their school work. Though at first, some collaboration tools are hard to use, students gradually learn how to use a certain collaboration tool and know its advantage/s. By using collaboration tools, students are able to work together efficiently and effectively. Moreover, students do not need to meet up in person anymore. Students can use collaborative tools in doing their reports/homework/projects at home.