Get to know your online communication tools

While social distancing is in place to restrict in-person contact, communication with peers can still happen. Successful online collaboration is essential for working efficiently and completing online group tasks. Get to know your online collaboration tools and download online collaboration tips.

Familiarise yourself with the LearnJCU tools your lecturer will use:

• Subject rooms (in LearnJCU with Collaborate)
• Discussion boards
• Class conversations
• Use the LearnJCU help guides if you need assistance.

Online Meetings

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." Helen Keller

Online meetings are an essential part of learning online, online group assessment tasks and consultations with Academics, Supervisors and Learning Advisors. Online meetings with peers and staff can be set up via email or through the contact details provided in your subject outline. When setting up online meetings for online group work the first step is to decide (as a group) how to keep in touch. It is also important to decide as a group the type of meetings you will set up. You will need to decide between synchronous and or asynchronous meetings. The way you communicate in groups will  depend on schedules and individual commitments of each group member. Some will have to navigate work rosters and caring duties. All students will be adjusting to the demands of learning online and new timetables.

Synchronous meetings are meetings where you will be 'live' at the same time. There are many options available including Zoom meetings, private Facebook group 'live chat', Skype, Google Hangout, FaceTime . Top Tip - Think about how you will keep a record of group meetings. In zoom meetings you can save the chat window or record the session.

Top Tip - In live meetings use app's like Anchor to make your own audio recordings or study podcasts and Otter to convert voice to text, make weekly team notes or lecture notes.

Asynchronous meetings allow participants to engage at different times. Platforms like Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp, Trello , Slack and discussion boards allow for this type of collaboration.

Top Tip - Set group expectations, rules and responsibilities so everyone is on the same page. Print out and follow this handy group action plan when working in groups online.

Online professionalism

"It's not the job you do, it's how you do the job."  Anonymous

Whether you are online or face to face, engaging professionally matters. Standout from the crowd by conducting yourself in a professional manner with these top tips.

Stay safe online

Staying safe online - It is everyone's responsibility to protect your own, and the University's information. Here are some tips on how to stay-safe online.