Collaboration Tools

What are Collaboration Tools

Document collaboration tools allow for multiple people to access and work on one electronic file or document together.

What is the purpose of Collaboration Tools

Document collaboration programs facilitate two or more people to share documents with fewer limitations (for example, emailing documents is often limited to smaller file sizes). Additionally, programs also allow multiple people to work on or contribute to a document either asynchronously or synchronously. For example, co-authors can write a paper within one single document without needing to create multiple versions of the file. When programs allow for synchronous collaboration, multiple users can access and work on the document at the same time and any edits or contributions are displayed in real time. Users can see, edit, and comment on each other's work as it is added.

How to use Collaboration Tools

Document collaboration programs can be used in university teaching contexts to:

  • Share files with students
  • Provide feedback on students work through comments
  • Support collaborative group assignments
  • Share resources between colleagues

Comparison

Dropbox Centrally Supported Tool
Excel - Microsoft
Google Drive Centrally Supported Tool
OneNote - Microsoft
Centrally Supported Tool
Teams - Microsoft
Centrally Supported Tool
Word - Microsoft
Total Score 83% 83% 91% 89% 85% 85%
Functionality functionality rating for Dropbox: 2 stars functionality rating for Excel - Microsoft: 2 stars functionality rating for Google Drive: 2 stars functionality rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 2 stars functionality rating for Teams - Microsoft: 1 stars functionality rating for Word - Microsoft: 2 stars
Accessibility accessibility rating for Dropbox: 2 stars accessibility rating for Excel - Microsoft: 2 stars accessibility rating for Google Drive: 3 stars accessibility rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 3 stars accessibility rating for Teams - Microsoft: 3 stars accessibility rating for Word - Microsoft: 2 stars
Technical technical rating for Dropbox: 2 stars technical rating for Excel - Microsoft: 1 stars technical rating for Google Drive: 3 stars technical rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 1 stars technical rating for Teams - Microsoft: 1 stars technical rating for Word - Microsoft: 1 stars
Mobile Design mobile-design rating for Dropbox: 3 stars mobile-design rating for Excel - Microsoft: 2 stars mobile-design rating for Google Drive: 3 stars mobile-design rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 2 stars mobile-design rating for Teams - Microsoft: 2 stars mobile-design rating for Word - Microsoft: 2 stars
Usage & Account Set Up usage-account rating for Dropbox: 2 stars usage-account rating for Excel - Microsoft: 3 stars usage-account rating for Google Drive: 2 stars usage-account rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 3 stars usage-account rating for Teams - Microsoft: 3 stars usage-account rating for Word - Microsoft: 3 stars
Social Presence social-presence rating for Dropbox: 2 stars social-presence rating for Excel - Microsoft: 2 stars social-presence rating for Google Drive: 2 stars social-presence rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 2 stars social-presence rating for Teams - Microsoft: 2 stars social-presence rating for Word - Microsoft: 2 stars
Instructor Presence instructor-presence rating for Dropbox: 2 stars instructor-presence rating for Excel - Microsoft: 2 stars instructor-presence rating for Google Drive: 2 stars instructor-presence rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 2 stars instructor-presence rating for Teams - Microsoft: 1 stars instructor-presence rating for Word - Microsoft: 2 stars
Cognitive Presence cognitive-presence rating for Dropbox: 2 stars cognitive-presence rating for Excel - Microsoft: 2 stars cognitive-presence rating for Google Drive: 3 stars cognitive-presence rating for OneNote - Microsoft: 3 stars cognitive-presence rating for Teams - Microsoft: 2 stars cognitive-presence rating for Word - Microsoft: 2 stars

Literature

Kai‐Wai Chu, S. and Kennedy, D.M. (2011) Using online collaborative tools for groups to co‐construct knowledge Online Information Review, 35(4), pp. 581–597. doi: 10.1108/14684521111161945.

Additional Resources