Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Antrobus.

Welcome to Computing.

I'm so glad you were able to join the lesson today.

Today we're going to learn about Shared Working.

Welcome to today's lesson from the unit of work Communication and the Internet.

Today's lesson is called Shared Working, and by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to evaluate different ways of working together online.

We will use these keywords through today's lesson.

Let's have a look at them together.

Collaboration.

Collaboration, working together on a task or project.

Private.

Private, restricted to a person or group.

Public.

Public, open for anyone to see or use.

Edit.

Edit, to change or improve content.

Today's lesson will be split into two sections.

The first section, we will identify ways to work together online, and in the second section, we will compare and evaluate online collaboration tools.

Let's get started.

How can you collaborate online? People can collaborate online by using shared documents, sending messages, leaving comments, or working on the same file at the same time.

Even if people are far apart, online tools help people plan, create and edit together.

Can you think of any times when you've worked collaboratively online? Maybe you've worked at home with a friend who's also at home on a project.

Let's explore the idea together.

Sam is working with Lucas on a school project from home.

What options do they have? Pause the video and give this some thought.

Okay, what did you come up with? Let's have a look at some suggestions.

They could use an online word processor to write their ideas, video call to talk about the project, or share files by email.

If the file is shared, they could both edit it at the same time.

That sounds like a really good suggestion for working on a project from home.

Opportunities for collaboration include shared documents for live edits.

For example, you could share a word processing document or a presentation document, even spreadsheets, and you can share that document with people in your class or if you work, in your organisation and you can all add text, you can add any kind of content such as images and basically you're working together on that document to complete it.

Commenting on a post or chat, so you can work collaboratively by commenting, adding your opinion to an already existing post or chat.

Remixing projects, coding.

So you may have come across this already, but don't realise it.

When you use Scratch, you can remix code and create your own version.

Have you done that already? Adding to a shared board.

So you may have used boards such as Padlet or Jamboard, where as a class or a group, you can contribute to a project idea.

For example, you can put virtual post-it notes with your opinions.

It's really good for brainstorming.

Finally, messaging apps.

Messaging apps allow you to work collaboratively.

They allow you to give comments and feedback as well as attaching images or documents and links.

Which of these have you used? Okay, it's time to check your understanding.

True or false, everyone using an online word processor can edit, type in a shared file at the same time? Is that true or false? Pause the video and give that some thought.

Okay, how did you get on? Did you put true? Well, if you did, you will be correct because remember, as we said earlier, everyone who uses an online word processor can edit the file at the same time.

This allows different people who are working in different locations to work on the same document.

Examples of collaboration tools.

Here we have a table that has three columns: tool, what it allows and example use.

The first tool is online word processor.

What it allows, it allows us to work on the same file together in real time.

And an example use is writing a group report.

The second tool is coding platforms. What it allows is remixing a project, like we said earlier, such as Scratch, which does not change the original.

An example use would be programming, music or design.

The third tool is collaborative whiteboard apps.

What it allows, share ideas one at a time.

And an example use will be project planning, discussion and ideas.

How do these ways of working compare with each other? Well, let's have a look together.

So an online word processor allows people to work at the same time in real time or live, if you like.

Coding platforms allow us to remix a project, so this is different than an online word processor when we're working on the same document at the same time, remixing a project means a copy of the original documents or project is taken and you work on that.

Collaborative whiteboards allow us to share ideas at one at a time rather than live, although it is still a document that is shared.

Which of these tools have you used? I'm sure you've used them in the classroom and maybe at home.

Let's move on and think about these online tools in a bit more detail.

Okay, let's think about the online tools that we've just looked at.

Why do you think people sometimes prefer to work on a copy instead of editing the original? Pause the video and just think about that.

Okay, what did you think? Well, some people remix instead of editing the original because they want to try something different without changing someone else's work.

It helps keep the original safe and lets them be more creative.

This is very easy to do on a computer when working digitally.

Did you come up with the same kind of idea that sometimes maybe a person might feel more confident if they're editing a copy rather than original? "What is remixing?" Sam asks.

Remixing is when you take someone else's digital project and make your own version.

The original stays the same and a copy is created that you can change.

Some examples include programming websites, for example, Scratch, music samples, or art using filters and colour changes.

On Scratch, you can press the Remix button to create your own editable copy of someone else's project.

This means the original idea is kept.

The copy can be changed, like the code, characters, colours.

The original part is not changed at all.

Have you had experience of using Scratch in this way? Maybe your teacher shared a project with you and you had to personalise it in your own way, or maybe you've worked on a Scratch project with one of your friends.

"What is the difference between remixing and editing?" Sam asks.

Well, that's a really good question, Sam.

Let's have a look at this table below to explain.

So we have the table with action, what it means and what happens to the file.

So first of all, let's look at editing.

So when we're editing, what that means is we change a shared file that everyone is using.

So what happens to the file is the same file is updated for everyone.

When we remix, what that means is that you make your own version of someone else's work or another version of your own work.

Then what happens to the file is that a new copy is made.

The original stays the same.

Okay, let's check your understanding.

What happens when you remix someone's project online? A, you work on the same file together, B, you delete the original project, C, you make a copy to change on your own, or D, you need permission to open it? Pause the video and give that question some thought.

Okay, how did you get on? Which answer did you pick? Well, if you picked C, you would be correct.

You make a copy to change on your own.

Remember, you've already done this when you've used Scratch.

Maybe your teacher has shared a project with you and you've remixed to come up with your own version of the project.

You're doing really well so far in this lesson, let's move on.

Now, we're going to look at Task A.

You're going to compare the different collaboration types, think about does it let everyone edit at once? Is the work shared or copied? What types of tasks suit this method? Choose your favourite tool and explain why it works well for group tasks.

You could record your answers in the table.

How did you get on with Task A? Let's compare your table to the example.

Okay, so we have type of tool, whether it's edited together, shared or copied, and what it's useful for.

So the online word processor, can you edit together? Yes.

Is it shared or a copy? It's normally a shared file.

And what is it useful for? It's useful for group writing and joint editing.

The next type of tool, a remixable platform like Scratch as we have discussed.

Can you edit together? No.

Is it shared or a copy? Remember, it's a copy of the original.

And what's it useful for? For personal versions of creative work.

Let's look at the third tool, file sharing platform.

Can you edit together? No.

Is it a shared or copy? They're shared files, but they're edited separately.

And what is this useful for? It's useful for homework, images and draughts.

Finally, email.

Can we edit this together? No.

Is it shared or copy? Well, it just sends a file.

And what's it useful for? It's useful for one way sharing with no live updates.

So for example, you might email your teacher with your homework attached to it.

Just a one way with no sharing at all.

We're now going to move on to the next part of our lesson, which is to compare and evaluate online collaboration tools.

Let's get started.

"What is the difference between public and private online?" Sam asks.

Good question, Sam.

Well, public means anyone can view or use the file, whereas private means only selected people can access or edit it.

Sam uploads a Scratch project and ticks Allow Remixing.

Anyone can view and create their own version.

What are the benefits of sharing something publicly? Why does Sam want to do this? Have a think about that question and pause the video.

Okay, why do you think Sam wants to share his work publicly? Well, sharing something publicly means more people can see it, try it out and build on ideas.

It can help others learn from your work or create new versions of it.

Lucas shared a slide deck with only Izzy and Jun.

They can all edit it, but no one else can see it.

When might it be better to keep your work private? Think about why Lucas might want to keep his slide deck private.

Pause the video and think about that.

Okay, what did you think? Well, keeping your work private is useful when it's not finished or when you only want certain people to help or give feedback.

It helps you stay in control of what gets changed.

Okay, let's have a look at a comparison of public and private collaboration.

Let's start with public collaboration.

So who can view public collaboration? Anyone.

Who can edit public collaboration? Well, that varies depending on the access that you have.

You could have viewing rights or editing rights.

And what is it good for? Well, public collaboration is good for remixing and showcasing work and projects.

Okay, private collaboration.

Who can view? Only invited users can view a private collaboration.

Who can edit? Only invited users can edit a private collaboration.

And what is private collaboration good for? It's good for group tasks where you want feedback or shared ideas.

Let's check your understanding.

Which of these is an example of a public project? A, a private class document, B, a Scratch game with remixing turned off, C, a blog post that anyone can read, D, a shared folder only your teacher can see? Think about that question and pause the video.

Okay, welcome back.

So which answer did you choose? Well, if you chose C, a blog post that anyone can read, that would be correct.

It's a public project.

The other responses are incorrect.

For example, response A talks about a private document, so therefore it's not public.

A scratch game with remixing turned off would not be public.

And a shared folder only your teacher can see again is not public.

So if you chose C, you were correct.

Well done.

Most online tools let you choose who can view, comment and edit.

What would happen if someone shared documents as anyone with the link can edit? Give that question some thought and pause the video.

Okay, what was your thinking? Well, anyone who gets a link can make changes to the document.

This can be helpful for teamwork, but it also means people could accidentally delete or change important parts if not careful.

So when you are sharing a document as anyone could edit, you need to be really careful.

True or false, if a document is public, anyone on the internet can edit it? Pause the video and give that statement.

Okay, what did you say? Well, if you said false, that will be correct.

Why is that? Well, it depends on the settings.

They can see it but can't always edit it.

Many projects begin privately and become public later.

Why might that be? Think about this and pause the video.

Okay, what do you think? Why might people want to first of all start their projects off privately and then become public later? Well, groups often want to finish their work first and check it before showing it to other people.

Making it public later means it's ready to be shared safely and confidently.

Sam asks, "What makes a tool collaborative?" A collaborative tool helps people work on something together, share and build ideas, and complete a task or project.

"What key features do collaboration tools include?" Sam asks.

Collaboration tools may have real-time editing, comments or chat, easy sharing, and version history.

Version history is a feature that allows users to track and access different, say, versions of a file or documents.

Izzy and Jun are planning a group poster.

They need to type, add images and share each other's changes.

What kind of tool would work well for this? Have a think about this and pause the video.

Okay, what did you come up with? Well, an online word processor or presentation tool would work well because they can both add ideas and pictures at the same time and see each other's changes live, so this would be a good option for Izzy and Jun.

Let's move on to Task B.

You're going to choose three examples from a list of online tasks: writing group story, creating a game, sharing a class photo, getting feedback on a video, making a facts poster.

In your answer, you should say should this be public or private? And the second part, why? Pause the video and have a go at the task.

How did you get on with the task? There's quite a lot to do there and you may have found it a little bit tricky.

Let's have a look at some example answers together.

Writing a group story will be private.

The group can plan, write and edit together before anyone else sees it.

Creating a game could be public.

Others might want to play it, give feedback or remix it.

Sharing a class photo should be private.

It might include people's faces and should only be shared with permission.

Giving feedback on a video, that could be public or private.

Public would mean more people can comment and private would be safer for early draughts or personal content.

Making a facts poster, private first and then public.

The group can create and check it privately then share it when it's finished.

How did you do? The task was a little bit tricky, but I'm sure you did really well.

If you struggled with this task, maybe go back and have a look at some of the content that we've learned today and that will help you to have another go.

We have reached the end of today's lesson, so well done, you have done a fantastic job.

Let's summarise what we have learned.

There are many different ways of working together online, including shared documents, commenting on a post or chat, remixing projects, adding to a shared board or messaging gaps.

Remixing is when you take someone else's digital project and make your own version.

The original stays the same.

A copy is created that you can change.

Working together on the internet can be public or private, depending on the purpose and the settings used.

Thank you for taking part in today's lesson.

I hope you enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing you next time.