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Review by Amy Lauren Botula, Common Sense Education | Updated December 2013

Collaborize Classroom

Free online discussion platform can foster equity and help engage

Subjects & skills
Subjects
  • English Language Arts
Skills
  • Creativity
  • Critical Thinking
Grades This grade range is based on learning appropriateness and doesn't take into account privacy. It's determined by Common Sense Education, not the product's publisher.
7–12
Great for:
Common Sense says (See details)
Teachers say (3 Reviews)
Platforms:  Website

Take a look inside

5 images
Teachers and students see the same main page.
Starting a discussion is much like composing an email.
Reports show site activity, participation, and user activity.
The teacher dashboard includes profile information, an inbox for messaging, and a settings link.
The topic library offers support and inspiration for teachers.

Pros: Private and secure site complements classroom instruction and gives all students a voice in classroom discussions.

Cons: Success with this platform assumes all students have consistent internet access, both inside and outside of school.

Bottom Line: As a free tool worth trying, Collaborize Classroom aims to increase engagement with online discussions in a social media-like forum.

How Can I Teach with This Tool?

Online discussions can start in the classroom, and even continue after class ends. Teachers can also opt to start a discussion online and then, based on the results, carry it into a non-digital, real-time classroom discussion the next day. Generally, the latter option may work well as a way to engage students in meaningful talk and discussion. Once students have had a chance to engage with the material online -- as well as have their thoughts and opinions validated -- they're typically much more willing to share out loud in class, and often in very thoughtful ways.

Another nice feature is that teachers can also ability-group assignments -- such as literature circles -- through the site. Specific projects can be assigned for collaborative completion. Collaborize Classroom also features built-in messaging so teachers can reach out to individual students who may need support and feedback. The site’s Topic Library is an excellent resource for downloadable lesson plans and discussion ideas, including articles about appropriate online discussion behavior.

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Put this tool into practice:
Standards:

Using a social media-like approach, Collaborize Classroom offers a secure online antidote to uninspired, disengaged classroom discussions. Teachers post discussion questions and set specific response options; multiple choice, yes/no, comment-based, or poll-based. At the conclusion of a discussion, teachers and students can access the results for review, reflection, and extension. The site also tracks participation so teachers can quickly assess comprehension as well as engagement.

Should teachers want to differentiate or group students within a class period, they need only create, and post within, new categories. Collaborize Classroom also boasts many support features for teachers including a Topic Library, and links for an FAQ section, email contact, as well as webinars.

Collaborize Classroom offers a great foundation on which teachers and students can build meaningful interactions and conversations -- even beyond the school day, if your students have access. The site's multiple response options -- as well as teachers' ability to embed videos, attach PDFs, MS Word documents, and images -- should help all students feel empowered during in-class discussions, no matter their learning style or preference. And, with the opportunity to review the results of each discussion, students will quickly see “proof” that their opinion matters.

Should a teacher want to post assignments on the site, it can be done -- albeit awkwardly so -- within a discussion post. A nice addition to the site would be an area just for updates and assignments, separate from any discussions, comments, or voting.

Overall Rating
Engagement Is the product stimulating, entertaining, and engrossing? Will kids want to return?

The platform's discussion and response tools are easy for students to use. Some kids may also appreciate the extra thinking time afforded by extending classroom discussions beyond the school day.

Pedagogy Is learning content seamlessly baked-in, and do kids build conceptual understanding? Is the product adaptable and empowering? Will skills transfer?

The variety of response options -- from polls to multiple-choice questions or even a comments section -- should help give all students access. However, the potential for depth and transfer depends largely on teacher initiative.

Support Does the product take into account learners of varying abilities, skill levels, and learning styles? Does it address both struggling and advanced students?

Multiple response options help support all learners; teachers can divide classes into groups, enabling differentiated work and discussions. Troubleshooting during online discussions is left largely up to the teacher.

Common Sense Reviewer
Amy Lauren Botula Other
About our ratings and privacy evaluation.

Key Standards Supported

Reading Informational Text

  • RI.8.7

    Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of using different mediums (e.g., print or digital text, video, multimedia) to present a particular topic or idea.

  • RI.8.8

    Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; recognize when irrelevant evidence is introduced.

  • RI.9-10.7

    Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.

  • RI.9-10.8

    Delineate and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, assessing whether the reasoning is valid and the evidence is relevant and sufficient; identify false statements and fallacious reasoning.

  • RI.11-12.7

    Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.

  • RI.11-12.8

    Delineate and evaluate the reasoning in seminal U.S. texts, including the application of constitutional principles and use of legal reasoning (e.g., in U.S. Supreme Court majority opinions and dissents) and the premises, purposes, and arguments in works of public advocacy (e.g., The Federalist, presidential addresses).

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Teacher Reviews

(See all 3 reviews) (3 reviews)
Featured review by
Lorena S. , Classroom teacher
Classroom teacher
South/West Park Elementary School
Tracy, United States
I used it with my Spanish as a Second Language students, and was pleasantly surprised that the kids were able to effectively communicate with me and with each other.
I liked this tool because it was a quick way for me to check student understanding, but it required students to be savvy on the keyboard and also for them to be able to log in to the site. While it is very good about protecting student privacy (only students you allow into your "social network" may respond), it did take time to set up my classes, give out their passwords, and get them used to logging in- third graders are not as used to social media as their older peers, but they are getting there.
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