Collaborative tools

Online collaborative tools can help you work with other people remotely.

Online collaborative tools can help you:

  • work with people virtually
  • work with people in a different organisation
  • work with people who work different shifts to you
  • store ideas, action and project plans and virtual discussions

Before deciding to use an online collaborative tool you should consider the below questions.

  • Is everyone you want to work with able to access the tools on their work computers?
  • Does the tool work for everyone? Can those with additional needs fully access the tools you are using? 
  • Have you considered how different people learn and engage? What is best for the group of people you are working with?
  • Do you need a text-based system, a visual based system, or a mixture of both?

Examples of collaborative tools

IdeaBoardz

IdeaBoardz is a team collaboration tool. It allows teams to collectively brainstorm, gather inputs, and reflect.

It is a great tool for teams as it allows users to virtually collaborate. It is also handy for teams to collect inputs over a time period and then meet to discuss them.  

Users can make an unlimited number of boards based on different topics. They can then add sticky notes to the boards. Within a board, users can add different columns to create subtopics. 

Ideaboardz can support communication, collaboration, social knowledge construction, both within and beyond the physical office. It is completely free to use. 

Find out more information about Ideaboardz.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft (MS) Teams is the default tool in the NHS. However, there are plenty of other things you can do with the platform other than video call and share screens. This includes co-authoring files in real time. 

The finer details available will depend on your settings and is completely free to the end user if your organisation has set it up. 

Find out more about Microsoft (MS) Teams.

Padlet

Padlet can be used for:

  • blogging
  • bookmarking
  • bolstering discussion

Padlet has 3 vastly different layouts that convey information as a square board, a feed of information, or as an open canvas.  

You can utilise wallpapers as organizational tools, including:

  • Venn diagrams
  • Know, Want to Know, and Learned charts
  • calendar
  • to-do lists

It can be used as a publishing tool or private notes app and is great for sharing resources from an event.  

The first 3 padlet boards are free. 

Find out more about Padlet.

Trello

Trellos is a free tool for project management. This platform can help a team to work more collaboratively and get work done faster. 

It has features, including:

  • boards
  • lists
  • cards

These enable users to organize and prioritise projects in a flexible, fun, and rewarding manner.  

You can view the team's tasks and check the progress of what has been completed and what is in progress.

Users can add more details like comments, attachments, and due dates, among others, to make it easy to track and understand the project from beginning to end. 

Find out more about Trello.

Page last reviewed: 21 July 2023
Next review due: 21 July 2024