Top Free Tools Online for Group Collaboration

tsultan    Tech     dimdim, dropbox, google docs, google groups, group collaboration, huddle, mindmeister, pbworks, stixy

Are you looking for tools online to help with group communication, organizing information, and managing people and projects? Whether you need it for an event, local youth group activities at your mosque, community service projects, learning circles, school projects, etc, we have put together a list of sites you should check out.

Google Docs – GoogleDocs is a free stand alone mini office suite that includes a basic word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, form and drawing programs. You can share files with many people and edit them in realtime. Perks include the ability to export files into a number of formats, including pdf, and standard documents that are compatible with Microsoft Office Products. Another interesting perk is that you can create forms and send them out as surveys. Results are automatically populated into a spreadsheet. Here’s a release from Google outlining some of the features they have developed and are currently working on.

Dimdim – A free online web conferencing interface for small groups of up to 20 attendees. There’s also an affordable option for larger groups. Features include the ability to share documents, webcam, microphone, audio conferencing, a whiteboard and public/private chat. DimDim has been noted by Inc, a leading Magazine for Entrepreneurship, as being the Best for Web Conferencing.

Dropbox – The amazing Dropbox is a file storage and sharing tool that automatically syncs to online storage space. It is a small application that you install on your computer. The basic version is free and includes 2GB of space! You can drop pretty much any type of file into the drop box. The files can then be viewed on different computers via your online account.  You can share files with friends. A neat feature about sharing files is that any changes made by users are automatically detected and saved. Previous versions of files are tracked.

Huddle – Huddle is a complete and secure online workspace where you can manage your people, projects and information. There’s a free version with limits, however we want to focus on the exclusive privilege that is given to charity organizations. Huddle is completely free for charity groups – you can get unlimited users, 10 workspaces and 10gb of storage. The American Red Cross, Unicef and Habitat for Humanity are examples of charities that are using Huddle. Document sharing and project management software is integrated into Huddle and this makes it a great choice for organizations looking for a secure platform to connect people and offices from across the globe.

Other notable tools we’ve had a chance to check out:

Something we haven’t had a chance to play around with but we wanted to share anyway because of its innovative interface is Stixy. Stixy is all about promoting flexibility by giving users the option to organize ideas and files in whatever way they choose. It is a visually appealing, interactive personal space that you can customize and share with family, friends and colleagues.

Are there any group collaboration tools that we are missing? I’m sure there’s a lot that we didn’t cover. Comment and let us know what your favorite sites are!

Image above attributed to CELALTEBER

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