Evaluating Collaborative Web Tools for Education

The world of online tools is, quite honestly, overwhelming.  There are so many tools available, and each one seems so inviting.  Just how do you choose which ones to make use of within the classroom?  Working with K-5 students, I really want to choose a few "go to" apps that my students can learn to use to engage and extend learning in meaningful ways, so consider student engagement, ease of integration and use for students.

Student engagement is crucial when choosing an online tool.  I am looking for a tool that is appealing to students.  That might be through gamification or other entertaining aspects of the app.  The app should be visually appealing and not overwhelming to look at for the age of students using it.  A tried and true collaboration tool is one that students ask to use again and again. Students should find it entertaining and stimulating.  It is one that allows students to showcase their creativity, conceptual understanding, and critical thinking.

Working with younger students, it is very important to me that the tool be easy - almost intuitive.  A collaboration tool should meet the needs of the wide range of learners within the classroom.  All levels of students should be able to engage as they work together in homogeneous or heterogeneous groups - whether they are advanced, on-level, or struggling learners.  In my role, I tend to work with small groups of students for short periods of time (usually 20-30 minutes).  The limited instructional time I have with a group shouldn't be eaten up by teaching students how to use an app.  I want that time to be used creating and collaborating with one another; therefore, the tool must be easy for students to navigate and use.  Just as importantly, any collaboration tool should allow for seamless integration of content.  The tool should empower students and provide them a voice within and beyond the classroom.  Students should be able to share their thinking and understanding, and the product should be adaptable enough to meet the various possible uses within any classroom.  Flexibility is important.  I am looking for a collaborative tool that provides options for my students.  

Of course,  online safety is always a concern.  I want a tool that respects students online safety.  Does the tool meet FERPA and COPPA standards?  Does the site promote the responsible and respectful use of technology?  Are there administrative controls that allow me to approve and moderate student posts.  Is the tool private, so students are not just posting to the world wide web, but to a more private and selective audience if I determine that is more appropriate?

Finding that just right collaborative tool is a tough task when each day new and exciting products are introduced to the world of education.  It is the one request I hear from teachers over and over again.  They want a safe, go-to product that will help them engage students in their learning, and be easy to use and integrate into any content area easily, so students and teachers are not wasting valuable instructional time learning to use a tool for this and another tool for that.