Part 1
Personal Skills
Time Management
Nothing could be more important to success in an online program than good time management skills. Juggling classes, work, family, and friends can be a challenge, but it would be almost impossible without appropriate planning. Important events and projects could fall to the wayside without proper attention. I've embraced a number of apps to keep myself organized throughout the semester, and talk more about them below.
Communication
Communication has taken on new roles in the 21st century. The fact that we can even take classes online, hundreds of miles away from the brick and mortar institution that grants the degree, is pretty phenomenal. However, technology is not without its setbacks. Emails, text messages, or any sort of instant communication without a camera lacks the physical cues we use every day to enhance our conversations with others. Words can be misinterpreted as hurtful and rude, when the author may have intended to write something else entirely. It is important to communicate regularly with students and instructors to make sure that instructions are relayed correctly, and keep everyone on the same page.
Staying Engaged
Online classes require a lot of discipline and initiative. I’ve found that I do a lot more reading in an online class than I ever did in a lecture on campus. Students of online programs must remain disciplined, and not allow themselves to lose their pace as the semester trudges on.
Organization Apps
I’m pretty embedded into the Google Universe, and heavily rely on their apps to boost my productivity and keep myself organized. Google Calendar keeps all of my appointments, due dates, school assignments, public library programs, and anything else you can think of. Google Calendar allows me to share specific events (or even entire calendars) with family, friends, and co-workers who need to know what I am doing on a particular day, or when I am available to perform other tasks. I am also a big fan of Business Calendar Pro. It is a bit more powerful than Google Calendar’s app. It has a beautiful interface, and responds well to touch.
When it comes to keeping track of important due dates and key events, I use the Tasks app. It sets reminders, notifications, and alarms to keep me focused on my goals, tasks, and projects. It works with Google Calendar as well, utilizing Google’s own task organization system that can be seen on the PC.
I prefer Google Keep over other note taking applications because it is simple, quick to use, and works well across a variety of platforms. Evernote has a number of phenomenal features that blow Keep out of the water, but I never found myself using them that often. Keep does what I need while being simple and easy to use.
Of all the apps I’ve written about so far, my number one favorite is Google Drive. I use this all the time and for just about everything. I use it to back up documents, pictures, and videos. It allows me to take projects anywhere. With school on the horizon, I will use it more and more, especially when collaborating with fellow students. Google Drive allows me to share documents with any number of people who can contribute to a project in real time.
As a team comes together, they begin to perform. Not only to they complete the assigned task, but they are empowered, communicate with one another, and recognize and appreciate each member’s contribution to the project.
Part 2
Being a Member of an Online Team
As if working in a team environment was not difficult enough, students who take distance courses often have the task of doing collaborative work online. Communication becomes paramount, as there is generally no opportunity to meet your team in person. The ability to trust your fellow students is also critical, as each is responsible for participating in whatever group project an instructor may assign.
Two keys to any successful team are Group Goals and Individual Accountability.
Teams may experience a period of intense conflagration that keeps the group from accomplishing the assigned tasks. This period, also known as storming, is a time when members may begin to form feuds, and participants may show their overbearing or reluctant nature towards the project. A good team leader will work to move the team along, and help establish ground rules that the entire group can follow as the move along with the project.
A team leader is fundamental in resolving conflicts, seeing that everyone is accountable, and ensuring team members are committed to the project. Each member is responsible for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses, and communicating that with the group. As the team comes together, and resolves their differences, they enter the norming stage of team development. Members may begin to recognize each individual’s strength, and begin to cooperate together. Constructive feedback and criticism can be used as team members begin to trust one another.
As a team comes together, they begin to perform. Not only to they complete the assigned task, but they are empowered, communicate with one another, and recognize and appreciate each member’s contribution to the project.
[1] Haycock, K. (2007, February 8). Working in teams. Speech presented at Colloquia, Spring 2007 in San Jose State University, San Jose.
[2] Irwin, E. (2014, January 12). The monster inside library school: Student teams[Powerpoint].
