Educational Technology: Collaboration Through Technology In The Classroom

Collaboration Through Technology In The Classroom

2/8/25

By Mackenzie Regan

    Technology is ever-changing and adapting. Some may embrace it and others may fear it, but one thing is certain: we must adapt alongside it in order to truly benefit from it. One of the biggest ways we can utilize technology to our advantage is by using it for collaboration. Collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something, (Oxford Languages). It is one of the most important skills in the education field, because whether it's with your co-teachers, students, or parents, you are always collaborating towards a common goals. Today I want to talk about some ways you can use technology to do so effectively. 

Collaboration Among Students 

    Promoting collaboration and teamwork among students and their peers can benefit their learning through integrating of ideas, socialization, and engagement. 

Some simple ways this can be done: 

1. Google Docs: Google Docs is a writing tool that students can use to share their documents with their peers through their email using the share button. With this, students can work on documents together or even peer edit each other's essays not just in the classroom, but from home as well!

2. Google Classroom: Google Classroom is a tool that allows teachers to post assignments and resources that students can see in real time. Students can use this tool to collaborate with each other by using the comment section or discussion posts. There is even a setting that allows students to post on Google Classroom, which would be a great way to have them communicate with their peers through their own posts!

3. Padlet: Padlet is a great resource to allow students to make posts and reply to each other in a variety of different ways. They can make posts and add pictures, videos and links. Then, they can have discussions in the comment sections of their posts.

 

Collaboration Among Teachers

   Promoting collaboration with your co-teachers and even other teachers across the world can be possible through technology. We can use social media to collaborate with teachers from other places, which can help us integrate new ideas. Using social media platforms can help us discover new inclusive ways to teach Multilingual Learners, Multicultural Learners, and students with disabilities. We can find new ideas for activities, ways to make lessons more learner friendly and engaging, classroom management skills, and other tips and tricks. Using social media platforms such as Instagram and X, we can follow educators and education hashtags to collaborate ideas with other teachers. There are also other websites specifically designed for this, such as View Sonic, which allows for teachers to connect and share ideas and lesson plans from all over.

    Though technology can be a great way to promote collaboration in the classroom, it is a tool that needs to be properly used in order to be completely effective. Take this quote for example, "Technology is powerful; besides the classroom teacher, technology can be the most powerful tool in teaching and learning today. While technology can provide needed scaffolds, assistive supports, personalized learning and make meaningful connections between classroom learning and students’ everyday lives, technology can also be harmful and dangerous if used ineffectively or haphazardly," (EdTech, pg. ix). This book incorporates great ways to utilize technology in education. However, it comes with an important preface. Technology is a tool that must be taught to students and teachers alike in order to really be an effective tool of collaboration.