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Syracuse University ITS  department provides licensing and system administration support, users are solely responsible for the functionality of these alternatives. Training materials and resources for use can be found below. Any additional support questions should be direct to your departmental IT support or by contacting the ITS Helpdesk by email: help@su-jsm.atlassian.net or by phone at: 315.443.2677

Microsoft SharePoint and Confluence Private Spaces are both popular collaboration and content management platforms, but they have some differences in terms of features, integration capabilities, and overall user experience. Here's an overview of how Microsoft SharePoint can be considered a comparable solution to Confluence Private Spaces:

1. Document Management:

   • SharePoint: SharePoint excels in document management. It allows users to create, store, and collaborate on documents easily. SharePoint integrates with Microsoft Office applications seamlessly, providing a familiar environment for users who already use tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence also supports document management, but it may not have the same level of integration with external document editing tools as SharePoint.

2. Integration with Office 365:

   • SharePoint: As part of the Microsoft 365 suite, SharePoint integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products like Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook. This facilitates smooth collaboration and data sharing across various applications.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: While Confluence integrates with some third-party applications, it may not have the same level of integration with Microsoft's suite of products.

3. Collaboration and Social Features:

   • SharePoint: SharePoint provides robust collaboration features, including social networking elements, discussion boards, and activity feeds. It promotes communication and collaboration within teams.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence also supports collaboration but may not have the same level of integration with enterprise social features found in SharePoint.

4. Customization and Extensibility:

   • SharePoint: SharePoint offers extensive customization options, allowing organizations to tailor their intranet or collaboration sites according to their specific needs. It supports the creation of custom workflows and applications.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence is known for its flexibility and ease of customization. While it may not be as feature-rich in terms of customization as SharePoint, it provides a good level of flexibility for teams.

Available Resources:

1. Microsoft Support - SharePoint Training

2. LinkedIn Learning - SharePoint Essential Training

3. YouTube - Microsoft SharePoint Channel:

Microsoft OneNote and Confluence Private Spaces are both tools designed to facilitate collaboration and information sharing within teams. While they have some similarities, they also have distinct features and use cases. Here's an overview of how Microsoft OneNote can be considered a comparable solution to Confluence Private Spaces:

1. Note-taking and Content Creation:

   • OneNote: OneNote is primarily a note-taking application that allows users to create and organize digital notebooks. Users can create pages with text, images, drawings, and other content. It provides a flexible and free-form canvas for capturing and organizing information.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence is more structured, offering pages and spaces for documentation, but it may not provide the same level of flexibility in terms of free-form content creation as OneNote.

2. Collaboration and Sharing:

   • OneNote: OneNote supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same notebook simultaneously. Users can share notebooks with others, making it easy to collaborate on projects or share information within a team.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence is designed for collaboration and knowledge sharing within teams. It provides spaces for teams to create, share, and collaborate on documents, meeting notes, and other content.

3. Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem:

   • OneNote: OneNote is part of the Microsoft 365 suite, and it integrates well with other Microsoft applications such as Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint. This can be advantageous for organizations already using Microsoft's productivity tools.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: While Confluence integrates with various third-party applications, it may not have the same level of integration with the broader Microsoft ecosystem.

4. Organization and Structure:

   • OneNote: OneNote provides a more free-form and flexible structure for organizing information. Users can create notebooks, sections, and pages as needed, making it suitable for various personal and team-based organizational preferences.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence offers a more structured environment with pages, spaces, and hierarchies. It's designed to organize content in a way that suits documentation and knowledge management needs within an organization.

5. Offline Access:

   • OneNote: OneNote allows users to work offline, syncing changes when an internet connection is reestablished. This feature is beneficial for users who need to access and update information while not connected to the internet.
   • Confluence Private Spaces: Confluence also supports offline access through mobile apps and desktop clients, but the level of functionality may vary compared to the online version.

Available Resources:

1. Microsoft Support- OneNote Training

2. Microsoft Learn - OneNote Courses

3. LinkedIn Learning- OneNote Essential Training

4. YouTube - Microsoft OneNote Training:

Microsoft OneNote and OneNote Staff Notebook for Education are related but distinct applications tailored for different purposes within the educational context. Here are the key differences between Microsoft OneNote and OneNote Staff Notebook for Education:

1. General Purpose vs. Specialized Tool:

   • OneNote: OneNote is a versatile note-taking application suitable for a wide range of uses, including personal note-taking, project planning, and collaborative content creation. It is not specific to education but is commonly used in various fields.
   • OneNote Staff Notebook for Education: OneNote Staff Notebook is a specialized version of OneNote designed specifically for educators and school staff. It includes features and templates tailored to the unique needs of educators in managing class materials, collaborating with colleagues, and facilitating communication with students.

2. Integration with Microsoft Teams:

   • OneNote: OneNote can be used independently or integrated into various Microsoft 365 applications. It is not inherently tied to Microsoft Teams.
   • OneNote Staff Notebook for Education: OneNote Staff Notebook is tightly integrated into Microsoft Teams for Education. It leverages Teams' collaborative features and provides a dedicated space for educators to organize content, collaborate with colleagues, and manage class materials within the Teams environment.

3. Collaboration and Communication:

   • OneNote: OneNote supports collaboration, but its collaboration features are more general-purpose and may not have the same focus on educational collaboration and communication.
   • OneNote Staff Notebook for Education: Staff Notebook emphasizes collaboration and communication within the educational setting. It includes specific sections for managing professional development, collaboration among educators, and communication with students.

4. Structure and Templates:

   • OneNote: OneNote provides a flexible and free-form structure, allowing users to organize content in notebooks, sections, and pages according to their preferences.
   • OneNote Staff Notebook for Education: Staff Notebook has a more structured approach with predefined sections, such as Collaboration Space, Content Library, and Class Notebook, catering to the specific needs of educators in managing class materials and collaborating with colleagues.

5. Student Notebooks:

   • OneNote: While OneNote itself does not have a specific Student Notebook feature, educators can use OneNote Class Notebooks within the education context to create notebooks for each student.
   • OneNote Staff Notebook for Education: Staff Notebook includes the Class Notebook section, where educators can organize content and collaborate with students, providing a structured environment for class materials.

6. Access and Platforms:

   • OneNote: OneNote is available on various platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and through web browsers, offering flexibility for users to access their notes across different devices.
   • OneNote Staff Notebook for Education: Staff Notebook is accessible through Microsoft Teams for Education, ensuring integration with Teams' features and availability on multiple platforms.

Available Resources:

1. Microsoft OneNote Staff Notebook - Overview:

2. Microsoft Support -Getting Started with OneNote Staff Notebook

3. OneNote in Education - Microsoft Education

4. YouTube - OneNote Staff Notebook Tutorial:

Blackboard Organizations expand the scope of the enterprise Blackboard system at Syracuse University to support non-course groups. These organizations can serve as an online meeting space for groups that would like a space for information sharing, collaboration, and communication. Blackboard organizations are available for groups that support the academic, administrative, and research missions of the university, as well as recognized student groups (Note: Student groups must have a faculty/staff sponsor). Some examples might include faculty and/or staff organizations, departmental organizations, research groups, and student organizations recognized by Student Affairs.

Organizations provide a collection of web-based tools, making it easy for group members to participate in on-line activities such as:

• Document sharing (papers, agendas, minutes, reports, etc.)
• Planning and administration (announcements, calendar)
• Communication (mailing lists, discussion boards, real-time chat and white board)
• Groups (communications and document sharing between members)
• On-line surveys
• Links to other on-line resources (web pages, databases)

A Blackboard Organization is managed by one or more leaders who can build the content of the site and enable tools for the participants. Additional participants may be assigned support roles such as assistant or builder which have limited administrative privileges. Participants may access materials and participate in an organization, but not change settings or add content.

All organization requests must be submitted through the web site. To request an organization in the Blackboard Community System, complete the Request an Organization Form.

Available Resources:

1. About Organizations in Blackboard
2. https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Student/Ultra/Interact/Organizations