What is Real-Time Communications

Online/web-based collaborative tools enable teachers and students to perform a wide range of tasks, such as interactive discussions, online collaboration activities, sharing and accessing electronic learning resources, and many more others. It not only promotes critical thinking and reflection in students but also encourages them to develop a sense of community, thus enabling the creation of an environment in which further collaborative work can take place. The author has categorised various tools into 11 types that deal with idea generation and brainstorming, live conference, robotics and coding tools, mapping, design, online group work and document collaboration, and online communication and content development. The chapter explains the online collaboration with its features, preparation required by institution and role of teacher presence in online learning. It also emphasizes that library consultations (i.e., librarians) directly boost student learning, so the active collaboration of librarians is a must.