ThinkFold

ThinkFold, which can be found here at http://www.thinkfold.com, is a software application that provides a shared interface where multiple users can collaborate on projects in an organized fashion. It is "organized" because ThinkFold provides a structure and an outline that fosters orderly communications and contribution. ThinkFold is aimed at eliminating all of the cumbersome emails you may send to your fellow project members with multiple and non-distinguishing CCs and BCCs.

With ThinkFold, student group projects would be taken to the "next level". This application will enable students to work online at separate computers from any location where the Internet is available, yet see and experience their classmates' action as if they were working at the same desk. Student will be able to share text and images and rearrange their thoughts and ideas concerning a project in real time.

ThinkFold provides a split screen display and a great user interface that enables its users to easily observe and make sense of the changes their fellow collaborators are making (literally) second by second. See the screen-shot below for a visual of the display:

ThinkFold's website contains a useful (though small) repository of tutorial videos with real time demonstrations of the software and detailed instructions on how to use it. Here is the link: http://www.thinkfold.com/products/.

There is only one major problem. ThinkFold, as an application, is not available yet for the public. Currently, ThinkFold is in its "Beta" state, which means you can sign up for a ThinkFold account, and you will be notified when the software is available for you, but right now, you cannot use it.

Rest assured, when ThinkFold is available for public use, it could greatly change the way students collaborate on group projects both inside and outside the classroom. Teachers would also have advanced monitoring capabilities since they could observe virtually how the students actually interact in their workgroups, as opposed to assessing just the final results of the project.