Collaboration+Tools

**Collaboration** The tools listed below will help you stay on top of your projects with ease through open channels for collaboration.
 * Resources 1-6 courtesy of:** [].


 * Based on a survey by Team KTWO, previous students have used Google Docs and**
 * Elluminate for** **most of their collaboration needs, but please feel free to explore other options to find what works best for your team.**

1.) [|BackPack]: You can keep your to-do lists, notes, ideas, and calendar online with Backpack, a simple web-based service that allows you to make pages with to-do lists, notes, files, and images. Backpack also features a calendar and reminders that can be sent via email or to your cell phone at predefined times. BackPack works with IE 6 or 7 (PC), Firefox 2 or later (Mac, PC, or Linux), Safari 2 or later (Mac). Backpack is a month-to-month service so you can upgrade, downgrade, or cancel your free access at any time. Use this tool in conjunction with [|Writeboard], where you can use an online text tool to create and collaborate.

2.) [|Basecamp]: Projects don't fail from a lack of charts, graphs, stats, or reports, they fail from a lack of clear communication. Basecamp solves this problem by providing tools tailored to improve the communication between people working together on a project.

3.) [|Gliffy]: This diagram editor is easy to use, and you can save your work on their servers for free. Gliffy Online has two ways to make document sharing simple. Collaboration enables others to see and edit your work by simply entering their email address. Publishing creates a read-only, or public, image of your diagram that you can easily embed in a wiki, blog, or other type of web software.

4.) [|Mindomo]: Mindmapping is a highly productive method of visual brainstorming that you can use to plan projects or to map out a knowledge base. Mindomo has an interface and feature set that rivals other free standalone mindmapping applications such as [|Freemind]. Maps are shareable but require you to register and login to save them.

5.) [|NoteMesh]: Add some social flavor to your note taking with this collaborative wiki style class note taker. Users can post their lecture notes, or contribute to existing lecture notes. NoteMesh wants to get classmates to collaborate to create a single definitive source for lecture notes.

6.) [|Vyew]: Vyew is an online meeting service that brings people and content together. The free version is limited to 50 pages, 20 participants, and themes. But, the number of sessions is unlimited.

7.) [|GoogleDocs]: This is a great free resource for chatting and sharing documents. This tool particularly comes in handy when needing to write a team paper or take group notes, allowing all team members to equally contribute.

8.) []: This tool is free for non-commercial use. If you watch the demo, you will see this tool has some neat features that Elluminate does not offer.

9.) Blackboard Collaborate : Previously called Elluminate and now called Blackboard Collaborate. these links are provided in the Springboard course content and this program allows you to share documents while collaborating by typing in a chat window or by speaking through your microphone. The ID course along with other courses in the IT program will utilize this collaboration tool.