Online and offline collaboration spaces are a little different
This blog is part of 23 Things for Professional Development, a course encouraging information professionals to explore online tools. The current post is in ‘Bitesize’* format.
Online collaboration and filesharing (namely Google Docs, wikis and Dropbox are the tools considered in Thing 13. I’ve used all of these in my time, but don’t really think I’ve used any of them to collaborate to the degree afforded. Google Docs and Dropbox I almost entirely use to share with myself (i.e. for file storage in the cloud) except for my running spreadsheet, which I share with my partner. Wikis, well, I’ve contributed to wikis developed by others, but usually only adding a small element to a well-structured whole.
The main reason for my lack of use of these tools is that I usually only collaborate on documents in the workplace, and there we are expected to use folders on shared drives to store files. I know these services are there, and I’m hoping I’d spot the scenario in which to use them should it arise!
*A truncated post to allow me to briefly consider CPD23 Themes I didn’t have the chance to investigate more deeply.