Beginning Term 4 - then end is nigh...

Hi All,

Well, I had a very hectic "term break" - spending 3/4 of it doing a 3500 word essay on learning styles!  Boy, I was glad to get that assessment sent off.

I was pleased to receive some work from this class - thank you to those that sent it in.  Even more pleasing - the quality of the work.  I am really impressed with the blog entries I read, the websites I viewed, the assessments I received.  Presentation was of a really high standard, the assessment topics were covered to satisfaction (and above) and I found it hard to give much feedback on how to improve, as they simply did not require improving.

But, on that note - feedback.

One thing we will be following up on when we get back to class, is feedback.  How to give and receive feedback is a skill that many people could do with improving on.  In the next class, I hope all will have their websites completed to a point where we can all view them.  We will then seek, receive and respond to feedback from other classmembers.  ON the flipside, we will feedback - hopefully in a way that is helpful, positive and productive.

Also, we will be doing a little revision test on the basics of communicating electronically.  I will email the questions out to everyone today, so you have time to revise and be 100% ready on Thursday.

Our last day covering Communicate Electronically and Organise Personal Work Priorities and Development.  After this, we move onto Electronic Presentations (Powerpoint).

See you on Thursday,

Donna

CHECKLIST FOR PROGRESS

Let's see where we are up to:

Communicate Electronically:

Assessment 1: Portfolio

Task 1: Know your email program.  This was done and observed in class.  All have completed this. 

Task 2: Email etiquette - This was in the form of a report.  All have completed this.

Task 3 : SPAM Report.  & Task 4: Email at Work questions.

*  Task 3 & 4 were to be done in a combined answer / report and emailed to the lecturer.

Task 5:  Online Collaboration  - to be displayed on your website

Task 6: Dangers of Social Networking - to be emailed to lecturer

Assessment 2: Project - Electronic Presentation.

In pairs - you are to create a webs.com web site which summarises and displays some "communicating elctronically" and "organising personal work priorities" topics.  Some of these we have covered in class, some will require research.

  

Topics to include on your website -

• Online Collaboration in the workplace
• Social networking dangers
• SPAM
• Twitter
• Blogging
• Facebook
• One Note
• Survey monkey
• Google calendar & Gmail
• Microsoft outlook
• Relevant Legislation (check out http://www.copyright.com.au/assets/documents/about-copyright/Copying%20and%20the%20Internet.pdf)
• & the original online work tool - EMAIL !! 

 - With each topic, discuss the how& why, and the good & bad points.
 - Use relevant links to websites, you tubes, documents. 
 - Interlink the pages and headings as necessary for easy mobility about the web site.
 - Use clear and simple headings.
 - Make it attractive, readable, enjoyable to the viewer.

Please email the web site address to your lecturer.

Please talk to the lecturer ASAP if you are having any problems with the workload or assessment requirements,

Feedback

Feedback - good or bad?

What is your feeling towards feedback?  Can you handle constrcutive criticism?

In a very politically correct society, we sometimes feel we should hold back form telling people what we can see they are getting or doing wrong in case it hiurts their feelings.  But is this beneficial to them in the long run?

I use as an example, the X-Factor / Talent shows that keep turning up on TV.  How we love watching people really "Bomb" as they think they are going to take the world by storm , and are genuinely surprised to hear that they are tone deaf and can't actually sing to save themselves!  How do they manage to get their own self perception so twisted so as to appear on national television and risk such public humiliation if they get it wrong.  Clearly, someone close to them should have come forawrd with some realistic feedback earlier on in their path to this point.  

Some are so set in believing themselves to be good, they disbelieve the judges and audience - announcing they will be famous anyhow!

Positive feedback is great - makes us feel all warm and fuzzy, gives our self esteem a boost, a sense of satisfaction... 

But for personal development and growth, we need to not only listen to and take note of negative feedback - we need to actively seek it !

However, when giving negative or constructive feedback - there are ways to do it that are better than others. 

Have you heard of the sandwich way of givng feedback?  This means literally "sandwiching" a negative in between two positives....

                           Positive
                           Negative
                           Positive

eg.  Your assignment was really well presented and your covered the first topic really well. 
        The second topic was too vague and needed more detail.
       Overall, a good effort!  I really  liked your reference list.

This can be a good techinque - so long as all the feedback (good & bad) is REAL!

When giving feedback, BE SPECIFIC.... let them know exactly what could be done to improve things, and emphasize the things that they have the power to change.

When recieving feedback ...

• see it as an opportunity for improvement and growth
• LISTEN carefully - take what they say seriously and look beyond their comments to see what else can be done to improve
• if they haven't been speciific - follow it up with questions. 
• ask for advice on HOW to improve
• demonstrate your committment to improving by getting it right / doing it better the next time. 
• thank them for their feedback

 If people can see room for improvemnt or are dissatcisfied with something, and they DON'T talk to you about it, then you are under a false assumption that all is good.  This may reduce your future successes, so you are the one losing out.

  So when someone asks you what you think - do them a favour and tell them!

 

Week 7 - Time Management & Microsoft Outlook

How well do you manage your time?

This week we will watch you tube video Darryl Cross -Time Management  as he gives us a quick overview of Stephen Covey's quadrant anaylsis of time.

Stephen Covey's book 7 habits of higly effective people is a remarkable tool that I recommned highly if you are interetsed in getting a different view on how to organise your life and your values.  Well worth a look if you have the interest.  I'd even put the reading of this book into the non-urgent / important quadrant (which is of course the one we should aim to be in the most!)

Let's then have a look at "thedesk" - "Tools" - "My 168" (you have to be logged in) - to see how you are spending your time.  Draw up your own quadrants and see if you can put your weekly activities into the relevant box.  Do the results surprise you?  Perhaps inspire you to make some changes?

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Second part of class - we will be looking at Microsoft Outlook.  This is an email software program used by a lot of organisations, so its worth having a look at the features and tools it offers.  Including the calendar and appointments facility and task lists.  Try out some you tube videos that explain the tools of M. Outlook (the 2010 version). 

Using these tools, have a look at the case study question (OPWPPD Ass2, Q3).  Work out which tasks are needed to be done in this situation, and prioritise them using M. Outlook.

You can then print off a copy of the daily task sheet and submit this (electronically) to the lecturer (me) for marking.

To finish off this topic, (OPWPPD Ass1, Q6) do a report on M. Outlook ...

       You are required the research Microsoft Outlook so a decision can be made on how useful it would be in the workplace.  List all tools that could benefit an organisation and any negative aspects of using Microsoft Outlook.  Submit your findings in an appropriate format. 

The appropriate format in this instance is your blog !

Be sure to email me when completed, along with a link to the blog page, so I know it is ready for marking.

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Week 6 - Stressing out ?

This week, we are looking at stress and its effect on  - productivity, well being & you!

We are about half way through the term - how are you coping?  Having any physical or mental symptoms of stress?  Is this normal for you?  What do you think is happening?

A great website resource - www.thedesk.org.au   Have a look (you have to register), in particular check out the bits about recognising and managing stress and anxiety.  There are some great resources and tools on this site - including some quizzes.  Have a go at a couple and see what it can tell you.

While browsing "thedesk", take note on the points about stress - how to recognise it, how to deal with it etc.  Did you find any of this relevant and perhaps even helpful?

For OPWPPD, Assessment 1 - Task 4 - you are required to interview / survey friends / colleagues about stress.   Use the information you have gleaned from "thedesk" (and other websites or resources) to put together a questionnaire.  You are then going to put this questionnaire onto Survey Monkey, and send to your classmates and lecturer, asking them to complete it.  Please include on the survey, a set of questions designed for the receiver to give you some evaluative feedback about your survey!

(Using Survey Monkey is "Collaborating Online" so remember this when you are considering Comm Electronically, Assessment 1 - Task 5).

Collate your reponses, write a short report which summarises the topic (stress), the process, and the results.  Submit this to the lecturer electronically (with a fantastic covering email), and then post it (and some additional personal reflections) onto your blog.

Survey Monkey is a great online tool that has potential for many applications in business and study scenarios.  What do you think it could be useful for?

Week 5 - catch up

Hi hardworking students,

Due to popular demand, this week will be allocated to completing those tasks we have started over the last week or so but not had sufficient class time to fully develop and complete.

Tasks needing to be worked on:  

• Completing research & report on The Dangers of Social Networking
• Completing KPI Checklist for Assessments
• Updating blogs
• Updating calendar
• Checking and responding to email

If you manage to get upto date, look at the blog for week 6.  You can start your research on "Stress"  and develop your ideas for your survey.  Next week, we will put onto Survey Monkey.  In the meantime, look out for a Survey Monkey request from me... it will be in your email soon.  This is mainly so you will have an idea of how a Survey Monkey works - from a participants point of view.

Ciao.

CATCH UP:

Where are we up to?

By now, you will have made a start on several assessment components and perhaps not all of them are comlpeted.  Some are designed to run over a period of time.  let's see where we are at, and if you are up to date...

Communicate Electronically:
Assessment 1 (Portfolio)

• Task 1 Knowing your email program - All studentss have done this (to satisfactory level) in class.  
• Task 2 Email Etiquette - All students have done and submitted this to a satisfactory level.
• Task 3 SPAM - Started in class week 3.  Some students have submitted this report, some need to make small adjustments and resubmit, some have not submitted anything.  This should be completed and emailed to the lecturer.
• Task 4 Email at Work questions - Started in class week 3.  This should be completed and submitted electronically.
• Task  6 - Started in class Week 4.  Not yet expected to be complete.

• Task 5 - not yet started.

Assessment 2 - Team project - not yet started.


Organise Personal Work Priorities and Development:
Assessment 1 (Portfolio 1)

• Point 1 Table of due dates & committments - done in class Week 1
• Point 2 Priorities checklist - done in class Week 1

(*  Both Point 1 & 2 have been combined onto your Google Calendar - part of Assessment 2)  This is an ongoing process - you should be updating and adjusting as you go along.

• Point 3 KPI's - Started in Week $.  A list of Key Performance Indicators for your assessments should have been drawn up.  You will need to submit two "checked off" copies of this checklist as you use them when submitting assessments.
• All other points - not yet started.

I look forward to recieving all due assessment components.  If you are having any problems, email me!

Cheers,

Donna

Week 4 - Socialising online... what's in it for business?

REVIEW:  Last class - we did some electronic collaborating via Microsoft OneNote.  I wonder how you found this program as a tool for collecting and sharing research information?  It's also a good tool for organising and storing documents.  Don't forget, the general overview page on One Note pretty much tells you all about how to use it. 

Or go here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYQS-b-xFFU for a quick review. 

And in case you forget - it's the Windows Key + S which allows you to select and paste from your screen directly a page in OneNote or onto Clipboard - where you can then copy to Word, or some other document.  Once you have activated OneNote on your computer, you do not even need to have it open to perform this screen copy function.  And you don't have to save your OneNote each time either - it automatically updates as you work on it.

Have you blogged about your OneNote experience yet?

Also, I'm aware we didn't have a chance to cover KPI's yet.  Don't panic - we have a bit of wiggle room in our schedule (even though it doesn't look like it).  We should get to cover this in the near future.

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Okay - onto the next class.....

Online Collaboration and

The Dangers of Social Networking!

How many of us have a Facebook account or page?What about a Twitter page?
Have you heard about "Linked In" ?
What do we use them for?
How might they be useful for "collaborating" for business?
How else might they be useful in business?
We will examine the benefits that Social Networking can bring to our business environemnt.

There are a couple of quick you tube videos that give an overview of:
 "what is twitter" and
"what is social networking"

Check them out!

We will also be wathcing a DVD - "Social Media, Email & Online Etiquette".  It gives a good overview of some do's & don'ts for online communicating.  You can borrow this from the GSIT Library (004.678SOC in the DVD section) if youwould like to view it again.
You can check out how Quantas uses a variety on online social media to support its business - including facebook, twitter, youtube,... 

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/follow-us/global/en

And then the downside... the dangers of using these types of networks.

There is a  down side to this rapidly expanding medium.  Do some research about some of the problems and dangers that have been associated with use of social media.  Be ready to share you findings in class.  You will be asked to prepare a report on the dangers of social networking and strategies for staying safe. (Task 6 of Communicate Electronically- Portfolio requirement).

So lots to look at - I hope you are feeling inspired and motivated by all this online activity and new electronic tools!  I look forard to hearing about your experiences and responses in your blogs.

Cheers,

D.



Week 3 - More email, SPAM & KPI's

Another busy class this week.

KPI's, KPA's, SELF EVALUATION.... business type jargon that we hear occasionally.  Do you know what these terms mean?  Well, you will by the end of this class. 

Let's evaluate the KPA's /KPI's that you have to deal with as a student?  What makes for a good assessment submission?  What things should you consider?  How can you be sure you cover everything required?  You will be putting together an assessment checklist that you can use to evaluate your own assessment submission BEFORE you hand it it.  What better way to pick up your areas of weakness and mistakes before the lecturer sees them?  What better way to make sure you are on target for success!

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EMAIL AT WORK:  As part of the Communicate Electronically unit, this class will look further at email at work.  In groups we will do some research and discussion of a few email issues.  We will then SHARE this information electronically - via a shared ONE NOTE notebook.

This is ONLINE COLLABORATION... keep this in mind for later on, when you are asked to discuss different aspects of online collaboration. (CE - Assessment 1, Task 5)

After sharing, and contributing our own ideas, each student will summarise and then prepare their own report to submit (electronically of course).  This is CE Assessment 1, Task 4.

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SPAM
What is it, how do we handle it, why do we hate it?

Check out the website www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_310294 and summarise the main points here in a short report (approx. 300 words).  Yes - you may share and help each other - but there is a catch.  You can only communicate your questions and comments via email !!

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Guess what?   Now we blog about it!

Week 2 - getting organised

Email is our focus this week. 

We look more closely at how to send an effective email.  There is so much more to sending a good email, than just typing in your  message and hitting the send button.  You need to consider - who it needs to go to, how it should be composed, what needs to go with it, security issues, matters of politeness and appropriateness... and much more.  After some demonstration and discussion, you will compose a list of 10 TIPS for Email Etiquette, convert this "poster" to PDF format, and email to your lecturer.

Please link or copy this list to your blog!  Do you think you have learned anything this class that might change the way you compose and send your emails in future?  Do you have any pet hates about emails you receive?

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Getting Organised

Well, week two sees us getting things under way, and probably inundated with work, assessments, stress!  Well, I hope not.

In our Wednesday class, we started a couple of activities that will hopefully keep us organised and on track through-out the semester. 

Firstly - we gathered and sorted out our assessment due dates.  Some of us put these onto a table or chart. Other showed it directly on our google calendar - see below.    (OPWPD - Assessment 1 - Task 1)

We then prioritised and created a checklist of due dates.  (OPWPD - Assessment 1 - Task 2)

Finally, we transferred all this info onto an online calendar - using  "Google" as our learning tool.  We also added in personal goals and specific events, appointments, and commitments. 

By now, your Google Calendar should be looking very colourful and probably pretty busy! (well, it is the 21st century - busy is a fairly normal state to be in).  Keep this calendar up to date throughout the course of the semester (and beyond if you like).  I will be observing your progress and use of it, and you will need to submit a short report on how you used the calendar and prioritised your tasks.  (OPWPD  Assessment 2, Task 1)

Please reflect on this process and your calendar activity so far in your blog.  Consider commenting on things like: 

 - have you used a calendar before... why, or why not?

 - have you used an electronic or online calendar before?

 - what is the advantages / disadvantages to using electronic over paperbased calendar or planning docs.

 - how do you think using an online calendar this semester will help or hinder you?

 - Are there certain situations that may be particularly suited or NOT suited to onine calendar use?

Next class - some group work and online collaboration about using email at work. 

Week 1 - Welcome to class!

Hi everyone.  My name is Donna and I am you lecturer this semester for your Cert III Thursday morning class.  Welcome.  We will be covering 2 subjects this term - Communicate Electronically & Organise PersonalWorkplace Priorities & Development. 
For Communicate Electronically - you will need to demonstrate
sending and receiving of email for a range of purposes
attaching and removing documents to email
using software applications to collaborate online
knowledge of relevant legislation

We willl look at how to send effective and appropriate emails, how to manage your electronic mail, and look at ways of collaborating online -including cloud computing and social networking.

In the first class, you will create a Google email account specifically for this class. 

This week:  you will receive your unit outlines and timetable via email.  Take the time to have a look through these outlines - direct any questions to your lecturer - either in class next week, or via email.

Email your lecturer with an attachment of a  short introduction to you and your history / experiences with communicating electroincally.  Add a photo (upload from phone).

Type up a reflection of your experiences in class so far this week.  Email to your lecturer.

Check out this BLOG post about reflecting.  It has tips on how and why!

http://www.missiontolearn.com/2009/09/make-reflection-daily-habit/







Next - we will be creating our own blog.  We will be putting our weekly (or more) reflections on here - so take care to set it as available to the public OR not (as you wish).

Be sure you email me with your blog address.