Blogs
A blog, derived from the term "Web log", is a website where content is written in a journal entry style. Many blogs function as online personal diaries and typically provide commentary on topics ranging from po...
Online Communication Tools
Discussion Boards
A discussion board is a virtual forum for holding discussions and posting content. Most discussion boards are asynchronous forums that resemble bulletin boards and blogs. Instructors and/or students can create ...
IM and Chat
Instant messaging (IM) is a form of text-based real-time communication between two or more people over a network. IMs boost communications due to the real-time nature and can be less intrusive than phone commun...
Online Journaling
Online journaling refers to the use of an online application that lets users publish academic journals and other scholarly works more easily than with traditional methods. This is done by allowing authors to us...
Podcasts/Videocasts
A podcast is a multimedia file distributed by either paid or unpaid subscription over the Internet. Similar to the radio, "podcast" is the name for the method of broadcast, which is also termed "podcasting". Al...
Skype
Skype is a free, downloadable software package that uses the internet to provide a real-time interactive environment designed for use in distance communication. Skype allows users to make telephone calls over t...
Twitter is a free social software and microblogging service that allows users to post, or "tweet," 140 characters of text in the style of a blog or RSS feed. Posts can be made directly through the website or th...
Web Conferencing
A web conference, also known as a webinar, refers to meetings or live presentations over the Internet. In a web conference each participant is connected to the other participants in real-time via the Internet. ...
Whiteboards
The term "whiteboard" is used to describe computer software applications that function like dry-erase boards. Virtual whiteboards allow one or more people to write or draw on the whiteboard simultaneously. Whit...
Wikis
A wiki is a type of website that permits users to edit available content. Wikis are designed with the philosophy of making it easy to correct mistakes and through collaboration, difficult to make mistakes. The ...