Overview
Proserva does not currently offer a dedicated group workspace or real-time collaborative document editing feature (no shared whiteboards, co-authored docs, or breakout rooms). However, several existing features support collaborative and group-based learning. For teams that need real-time co-authoring or shared workspaces, external tools can be embedded directly into Proserva lessons.
Built-In Collaborative Features
Discussion Forums
Public discussion forums enable peer-to-peer interaction within courses. Students can respond to each other, share resources, debate topics, and build on each other's ideas — all within a structured, instructor-facilitated space. See the dedicated Discussion Forums article for full details.
Group Chat
Multi-user chat threads support small group communication within a course. The thread owner (typically the instructor) controls who can add or remove participants. Group chats work well for:
Small group project coordination
Cohort-based discussion outside formal forums
Quick team communication during live workshops
Peer support and informal Q&A
See the dedicated Messaging article for full details on chat features, read receipts, and attachments.
Collaborator Roles (Team Teaching)
Multiple instructors or co-facilitators can be added to a course with distinct permissions:
Collaborator: can build and edit course content (lessons, modules, assignments) but does not manage learners.
Instructor: can manage learners — view student progress, grades, completions, and preview the course as a student.
A user can hold both roles simultaneously, giving them full course management capabilities.
This enables team teaching, co-facilitation, and shared course ownership across departments or sites.
Peer Review via Assignments
While not a dedicated peer review workflow, instructors can structure peer review activities using public discussions or by configuring assignments with rubric sharing. Students can view each other's discussion posts and provide feedback; instructors facilitate the process.
Embedding External Collaborative Tools
Proserva lessons support HTML and iFrame embedding. This means any web-based collaborative tool can be surfaced directly within a Proserva lesson:
Tool | Use Case | How to Embed |
Google Docs / Sheets / Slides | Co-authoring documents, collaborative data collection, group presentations | Publish to web → embed link, or paste share link with edit permissions |
Miro / MURAL | Virtual whiteboarding, brainstorming, mind mapping | Use the platform's embed/share link |
Padlet | Collaborative boards for sharing ideas, resources, or reflections | Use Padlet's embed code |
Jamboard | Simple collaborative whiteboarding | Use Google's embed option |
Flip (formerly Flipgrid) | Video-based discussions and responses | Embed the topic/group link |
How to Embed an External Tool
Open the tool you want to embed and locate its share or embed option.
Copy the embed code (iFrame HTML) or the shareable link.
In Proserva, edit a lesson and add an HTML block or embed section.
Paste the code or link and save.
Preview as a student to confirm the embedded tool loads correctly.
Limitations & Considerations
No native real-time co-authoring: Proserva does not have its own collaborative document editor. All co-authoring happens in the embedded external tool.
No breakout rooms: Proserva does not include a breakout room feature for dividing cohorts into smaller groups within a live session. This would need to be handled by the video conferencing platform (Zoom breakout rooms, etc.).
iFrame restrictions: some platforms block embedding via iFrame (X-Frame-Options headers). Google Docs generally works; SharePoint and some enterprise tools may not. Test before building a course around it.
Authentication: embedded tools may require the learner to be logged into the external platform (e.g., Google account for Google Docs). If your organization uses SSO, this is usually seamless.
No cross-tool activity tracking: activity inside an embedded Miro board or Google Doc is not tracked by Proserva. Only the lesson completion status is recorded.
Recommendation
For organizations that need robust collaborative workspaces, the recommended approach is to embed those external tools into Proserva lessons while using Proserva for the surrounding course structure — content delivery, progress tracking, grading, discussion forums, and credentialing. Proserva is purpose-built for educator development (licensure, coaching, observations, professional learning), not as a general-purpose collaborative workspace, but its embed capabilities let it serve as the hub that connects all the tools in your learning ecosystem.