Beyond Google Docs

With this article, Dr. Diane Wink's long-running authorship of this department comes to an end. Diane made a significant contribution to the journal; her articles were always interesting and informative, helping to advance our thinking. Thank you, Diane! Your department articles will be missed. Suzanne P. Smith, EdD, RN, FAAN, Editor-in-Chief. Many course management systems lack the social atmosphere and interactivity of face-to-face classrooms that are essential for developing communication and collaborative skills in nursing students. Creating a sense of community online not only facilitates collaboration but also increases student satisfaction and perceived learning. In this article, the authors describe free Google tools that faculty can use to foster communication and collaboration among students in online, blended, and face-to-face learning environments.