Virtual collaboration spaces where you can share visual information, have group text, voice, and video chats, including creating channels or sub-groups to focus on specific topics.
Groups.io is a privacy-focused group email list/web discussion tool. You can use announcement-only/broadcast, moderated, or restricted groups, or groups with other combinations of settings.
Current known uses in the sector
Groups.io can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival as an group communication and discussion tool with clients and communities.
Video overview
Pricing
Their free account allows for groups up to 100 members. Paid versions have more features, including additional collaboration tools (such as Polls, Calendar, Chat, Database, Photos, Files, Wiki).
Ease of use & Accessibility
Easy to set up and use. If accessed through email by group members, easy and accessible.
Mobile friendly
Most users will access through email after signing up. However, the site and additional tools/features can be accessed on any device through the web browser.
Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption
Google Groups is a group email list/web discussion tool. You can use announcement-only/broadcast, moderated, or restricted groups, or groups with other combinations of settings.
Current known uses in the sector
Google Groups can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival as an group communication and discussion tool with clients and communities.
Video overview
Pricing
Google Groups is free for personal/individual use. According to Google, “There are two versions of Groups – the free version for everyone, and a version for organizations (work, school, and so on). The tasks you can do and features you can access depend on which version you have. If you’re signed in with a work or school account, the tasks and features available to you are customized by your administrator.”
Ease of use & Accessibility
Easy to set up and use. If accessed through email by group members, easy and accessible.
Mobile friendly
Most users will access through email after signing up. However, the site and additional tools/features can be accessed on any device through the web browser.
Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption
You can choose different languages to be used for system-generated information such as notifications and email footers that come with each group email.
Mentimeter is a tool you can use to add questions, polls, quizzes, slides, images, gifs and more to presentations, webinars, and other live online meetings.
Current known uses in the sector
Mentimeter is a commonly used engagement tool in webinars and courses with Newcomers.
Mentimeter can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools as a tool to engage with Newcomers visually, brainstorm ideas, capture Newcomer feedback, ideas, insights, suggestions, comprehension, etc.
Video overview
Pricing
Mentimeter has a free plan that allows you to create up to 2 question slides and 5 quiz slides. Additional paid plans have more features.
Ease of use & Accessibility
After a slight learning curve, Mentimeter is easy to use and intuitive to include in your presentations and live sessions.
Mobile friendly
It is mobile friendly for participants to use.
Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption
According to the Common Sense Media Privacy Evaluation for Mentimeter, “a small amount of personal information is collected, but it is not sold and it is only collected and stored as is necessary to run the service; behavioral advertising is used. The terms state, in exhaustive detail, exactly what types of security are used, from computer security to human resource security, including encryption; those who use the service are notified in the case of a data breach.”
Ideabordz is a simple online white board tool you can use during a live online meeting/session. Participants can fill out sticky notes together, live, during the session. IdeaBoardz is a team collaboration tool. It allows teams to collectively brainstorm, gather inputs, reflect and retrospect.
Current known uses in the sector
Idealbordz can been used during webinars, online video conference meetings, and community sessions as a brainstorming tool to capture simple information such as what went well, what didn’t go well, and action items to capture. Participants can vote on ideas to generate priorities.
Video overview
Pricing
IdeaBordz is a free tool.
Ease of use & Accessibility
IdeaBordz is simple and intuitive to use, and does not require an account to use.
IdeaBordz indicates that it is best viewed on Chrome, FireFox, or Safari web browsers on your computer.
Mobile friendly
IdeaBordz is mobile friendly and works well in mobile web browsers.
Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption
Creating an account and logging into the site is optional. You can choose not to login and still use IdeaBoardz. If you do create an account, Ideabordz says that they “store only your name and email id to identify you when you visit next.”
Mural is an online visual collaboration space, a whiteboard tool you can use during a live online meeting/session. You can also use it as a planning, idea generating, and visualization tool to create simple and comprehensive visualizations and diagrams and collaborate with others on ideas.
Current known uses in the sector
Mural can been used during webinars, online video conference meetings, and community sessions as a brainstorming, meeting, visual collaboration, design, and Newcomer engagement tool.
Miro is an online visual collaboration space, a whiteboard tool you can use during a live online meeting/session. You can also use it as a planning, idea generating, and visualization tool to create simple and comprehensive visualizations and diagrams and collaborate with others on ideas.
Current known uses in the sector
Miro can been used during webinars, online video conference meetings, and community sessions as a brainstorming, meeting, visual collaboration, design, and Newcomer engagement tool.
Microsoft Teams combines video conferencing software with team collaboration tools. It is a workspace chat and videoconferencing tool, with file storage, and integration with other applications. Part of the Microsoft 365 family of products.
Current known uses in the sector
Teams is used by many organizations as both an internal tool for collaboration as well as an external client service tool.
Jitsi is a free, secure, and open source video conferencing with collaboration functionality, video directly in browse. No downloads required.
Current known uses in the sector
Jitsi can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival as a way to communicate in real time with Newcomers and colleagues.
Google Meet is voice, instant messaging, video chat/conferencing platform.
Current known uses in the sector
Google Meet can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival as a way to communicate in real time with Newcomers and colleagues.
Video overview
Pricing
Google Meet is free.
Ease of use & Accessibility
Google Meet is easy to use and allows you to have video meetings right in your web browser instead of having to download any software. Find out about accessibility features here.
Mobile friendly
Google Meet is available as an Android and iOS app.
Privacy/security features (including data security and message encryption)
Slack is a workplace communication tool, where participants can message each other, create channels/discussion groups, and share tools and files. Slack also integrates with other apps/add-ins and other workplace tools.
You can integrate other apps and services into Slack, making it a versatile team communication tool. Using Slack can increase communication and collaboration, facilitate project management, and allow you to learn how to use a tool that is popular in many workplaces today.
Current known uses in the sector
Public community groups and discussions on specific topics for larger projects.
Used as the messaging component for online conferences.
Internal team meeting, project management, and discussion tool.
Mainly an internally focused tool, Slack can be used to coordinate with Newcomers and communities as well. Slack allows for public and private channels, restricting access to internally focused channels and discussions, while allowing for external partners/clients to share and discuss. In that way, Slack can be used in Citizenship Preparation, Community Connections, Employment-related, Information and Orientation, Library Settlement Partnership, Settlement Workers in Schools, Pre-Arrival as a tool to engage with internal colleagues, external partners & stakeholders, as well as Newcomers.
Slack is relatively easy to use, but there is a learning curve to make full use of it. The above videos as well as time and practice, make it easy to use after the initial orientation. Here is a good example of a Slack workspace guidelines and orientation guide, from Refugee613’s DMSI project.
Slack has a mobile/smartphone app where participants can access full functionality, including using Slack for audio calls with other users.
Privacy/security features, including data security and message encryption
Slack has a mixed rating on Common Sense Media (which typically rates for safe use of technology with children). However, Slack indicates that it uses strong security protocols, including that it can be can be configured for HIPAA compliance, including electronically protected health information (e-PHI), which is an extremely high security setting.
It is useful and important to note on the pricing page the security features increase and are enhanced with higher priced versions of the tool.