Collaborating online: Practical tools and

technologies (including web 2.0 and beyond)

Chris MavergamesWeb Operations Manager/Information Architect

Cochrane Collaboration Web TeamGerman Cochrane Centre

Croatian SymposiumSplit, 2 April 2011

Croatian SymposiumSplit, 2 April 2011

Structure of this workshop

• Brief intro 5 mins.

• Overview of tools you can use today 20 mins.

• Q & A and hands-on 15-20 mins.

• Web 2.0 and beyond 20 mins.

• Q & A and hands-on 20 mins.

• Summary and links 5 mins.

Please ask questions at ANY time as we go along!

Our organisation

• Geographically dispersed contributor base• Spread across many institutions and orgs• Virtual• Mostly online- or computer-based work• Asynchronous working patterns (time

zones)• Need to collaborate online• Technologically savvy• There are a lot of us!

Our principleshttp://www.cochrane.org/about-us/our-principles

• Collaboration, by internally and externally fostering good communications, open decision making and teamwork.

• Building on the enthusiasm of individuals, by involving and supporting people of different skills and backgrounds.

• Avoiding duplication, by good management and co-ordination to maximise economy of effort.

• Enabling wide participation in the work of the Collaboration by reducing barriers to contributing and by encouraging diversity.

Tools and technologies

• Skype (speaking, chatting, sharing)• Netviewer (meetings, webinars)• Discussion Forums (asynchronous

discussion)• Zotero (reference management)• Dropbox, drop.io (file sharing)• Google Docs (collaborative document

creation and management)

Want to use Netviewer for your next meeting?

Contact Lucie Jones in the The Cochrane Collaboration

Secretariatljones@cochrane.org

cochrane.org/forum

Zotero

via RIS format

Summary – Issues of equity

• These tools and technologies enable wide participation

• Don’t need to be in a fancy institution with loads of infrastructure

• All you need is a computer and reliable internet access (positive implications for Low-resource settings, child-rearing, stay-at-home moms, others)

• Allows for anyone with initiative and enthusiasm to participate

• Thus, the future leaders of our organisations can come from anywhere, any background

Summary and way forward

• Powerful tools• Enable collaboration at no cost• Enable capacity-buildingSo, we should:• Aim to make better use of these tools• Share tips and tools with each other• Challenge: try one of these tools in

your group or for your next task!

Hvala!

Questions?