Collaborative Development of ICT Content

A Group involves people who work independently to achieve its goal, while a Team works
interdependently where each member has a specific role or function. Thus, the team interacts
dynamically and adoptively to reach its common goal.
When creating interesting ICT content to be published, it is not enough to have the skills and
knowledge about it, for it would be difficult to maintain and monitor it alone. It is also not enough
that your group works independently because it might lead to inefficiency due to
miscommunication. What you need is to create a “Team Structure.”
Team Structure refers to the creation of an individual team or the creation of a multi-system. It is
an essential component of the teamwork process. A well-structured team is an enabler for and the
result of effective communication, leadership, situation monitoring, and support.
Online collaboration is a work process where people are interacting in real-time over the internet.
It provides a smooth process in the development of ICT content even without working together
physically.
A team must consider these Four (4) Parts of Collaboration in a Flow Process while interacting with
team members:
• Sharing: documenting explicit knowledge
• Understanding: adopting the process knowledge
• Reflection: analyzing or interpreting shared information
• Expression: the process of making known ones thought or feelings
Team Members
 Project Manager: An individual who has general accountability for the successful initiation,
planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling, and closure of a project.
 Data Analyst: Someone who gathers, processes, and performs statistical analyses of Data. A
person who is accountable in collecting the data for ICT content.
 Content Writer and Editor: A person responsible for reviewing the data and finalizes a
complete of information.
 The Web Designer – A person responsible for creating the appearance, layout, and elements
of a website. The job involves understanding both graphic design and computer
programming.
 The Web Developer – The person technically develops the overall functionalities of a web
page.
Online Collaborative Tools and Processes
Online collaborative tools for ICT content development that may be used currently include the
following:
• Facebook Groups • Microsoft's Yammer
• G Suite • MS Office 365
• Google Chat/ Hangouts • Prezi
• Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides • Trello
• Google Drive • Zoom
• Microsoft Teams • Skype/ Viber/ Kakao Talk/
WeChat/ Line
Using Google Drive for Collaboration
In creating and co-creating ICT content, storage, and organization of files is necessary. It will be
safe and convenient if the content will be stored on clouds and available for the members to edit
and organize anytime, anywhere. However, each member should be responsible in keeping the
files.
Steps in Creating Folder/s in Google Drive
1. Make sure that each member has a Google account.
2. Sign-in to your Google Drive account.
3. Create a folder by clicking “New.” Then a pop-up window will appear then, click “Folder.”
4. Another pop-up window will appear. Type a Name for the new folder then, click “CREATE.” A
folder will be created.
5. You can create as many folders as necessary for the project by repeating step 3 to 4.
Steps in Sharing Folder in Google Drive
1. To share the folder with the team members, right-click the folder to be shared and a pop-up
window will appear, then, click "Get shareable link."
2. A pop–up window will appear. You have two options on how you will share a folder. It
can be “Restricted” or “Anyone with the link.” Click the drop-down list button below
the text input box of “Get link” and a popup window will appear. Then, click your
chosen mode of folder sharing.
If you choose “Restricted” Mode.
2.1.A. Choosing “Restricted” in sharing a folder means that the folder will only be accessible to
the people that has been added by the creator. Anyone who has the link but has not been added by
the creator, he or she will not be able to access it without the creator's permission. This mode of
sharing is more secure because of the restriction. Once you click the “Restricted,” click the “Share
with people and groups” located at the upper box then, encode the e-mails of your team members.
2.1.B. Click “Send.” An email is sent to people you shared with.
2.2. If you choose the “Anyone with the link” mode 2.2.A. If you choose “Anyone with the link”
it means that you can give other people a link to your folder so that you don’t have to add e-mail
addresses when you share folder. This mode of sharing is more convenient if you have a large of
number of team members. Once you click the “Anyone with the link,” click the drop-down list
button located at the right side and a pop-up window will appear. Click “Editor” so that the receiver
of the link will be able to organize, add or edit files to the shared folder.
2.2.B. Click “Copy link” and paste the link in an email or any place you want to share it like private
message, chat group, or group page.
Online Platforms for Hosting ICT Content
After creating and finalizing your content, it is now ready to be published online.
Platforms that may be currently used to host newsletters and similar ICT content
include the following:
• Presentation/ visualization (Prezi, Soho, Slideshare, Mindmeister)
• Cloud computing (Google Apps)
• Social Media (Facebook Pages, Tumblr)
• Web Page Creation (Wix, Weebly)
• Blog sites (Blogger, Wordpress, Livejournal, Issuu
Characteristics of Good Collaborative Tools and Platforms
Always remember that there are no superior tools. The productivity of a tool
is dependent on the intended purpose of the team. Hence, in choosing an appropriate
tool, the team must consider the following:
• The tool must be user friendly.
• The tool has elements that are appropriate for the team's goal.
• The tool prioritizes security and privacy.
C. Project Management for ICT Content
The application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities is called Project
Management. It is needed to achieve project requirements, usually to time and budget.

Five Phases of Project Management

Initiating - An overview of the objectives of the project, needs, and the problem is identified. It is
where you create the project charter with the Project Manager assigned to the project.
• Planning - This is where a successful project conclusion is worked out by the project manager
and the project team. The team brainstorms the ICT theme to be published, together with the
collaborative tools and online platforms to
be used.
• Executing - This is where the project team goes about executing the project plan once the project
plan has been constructed. The curation of ICT content may occur in this phase for quality
assurance. Content writers and editors are
essential in this phase. After all the preparation has been done, publishing the ICT content online
may now take place.
• Monitoring and Controlling - This is where the project manager monitors and controls the work
for a time, cost, scope, quality, risk, and other factors while the project is being executed. It is also
an ongoing process that ensures
that the project meets its focus for each project objective. Other members, primarily the web
developer, may work in this phase collaboratively with the project manager.
• Closing- This happens when each phase is ended and when each entire project is concluded. It
happens to ensure that all the work has been finished, completed, and approved.