There are a few free-to-expensive collaboration software, where two or more users, not necessarily collocated can edit a document in real time. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collaborative_editing for more information about these programs.

But, as we learned yesterday, Google (docs, spreadsheets, PowerPoint-like presentations) provides online collaborative editing for free, and nothing other than a browser, email account, and internet connection are needed.

Some instructional uses:

1) Teacher posts documents containing errors (for an ESL writing class, for example) and assigns two-three Ss per document; have Ss co-edit the document, correcting the errors. (Each S should pick a color for their comments.)

2) T assigns a writing topic and pairs up Ss to work together in Google Docs to develop the essay.

3) Peer review--have Ss add comments to each others' documents, before the T grades them.

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