We are excited to share with you one of our favorite technologies for collaboration – Etherpad. Etherpad is a “really” real time online web-based word processor. It allows people to work together in a synchronous way. We use Etherpad both as teachers and with our students. When we are referring to Etherpad it is as the original website.  Recently, Etherpad was bought by Google and it is our understanding that it will be incorporated into Google Wave.  Etherpad has, however, open sourced the code so there are several versions of it that exist – http://piratepad.net/ , and www.ietherpad.com being the two that we primarily use.

As educators, we see the immense potential of Etherpad in the classroom. Etherpad is a tool that can be used with the students in one classroom, between classes or schools and even between students in different sides of the world. Just imagine a classroom without walls. A place in which students could communicate, collaborate and create projects with students in any place in the planet!

In some ways, Etherpad is similar to other online word processors like Google Docs but  one of the best features is that it allows students to create a “pad” and start writing and collaborating without signing up for an account. A pad can literally created within seconds and students can immediately start brainstorming, writing, editing and collaborating. Another great feature of etherpad is that it allows the teacher to replay the entire action of each Etherpad by using the Playback button.

For us, Etherpad has become the number one tool when we want our students to work together. Our students communicate and collaborate easily with students in their class, their school, and even with students from other schools within our district. They write rough drafts, share them with a classmate for peer editing, and then with us for final grading. Etherpad has allowed our students to expand their practice and learning outside of the four walls of our classrooms.

Some other uses of Etherpad include:

* Brainstorming

* Collaborative Writing Projects

* Fill in the Blank – CLOZE activities

* Problem Solving Activities

* Allows students to gather ideas, data, and information while working in a collaborative environment.

* Students working together to solve a math problem

* Vocabulary practice – 1 student writes the word and the other writes the definition.

We also wanted to offer some Tips – Tricks for you to use when using Etherpad to collaborate with students:

* Take Baby Steps – Start by collaborating within your classroom. Then, open up collaboration to all of your classes. When you are ready open up to other teachers or schools.

* If you are working with another teacher you MUST WORK AS A TEAM. There may be technical, scheduling and other issues you will need to handle together.

* Plan for twice as much time as you think it will take.

* BE FLEXIBLE – TECHNOLOGY FAILS.

* Not everything has to be graded. Sometimes it is not about perfection is about practice and motivation!

* Let students play with Etherpad before starting an assignment.

* If you are working with other schools allow the students to talk prior to starting the assignment.

* Create several etherpads per class. Divide students in groups. Smaller groups work better.

*Make sure you have clear rules and expectations about online behavior and enforce them as needed.

Without a doubt Etherpad has proven to be an invaluable tool in our classrooms. Are you using Etherpad or another collaborative tool in your classroom? We’d love to hear about it!

RESOURCES:

http://www.ideastoinspire.co.uk/primarypad.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etherpad#Clones

http://worldlanguagelab.wikispaces.com/EtherPad

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