Managing a remote elearning team is not as simple as you think. There is no doubt that it is a convenient way to get the right talent that you need to complete an online course. It gives you more options and allows you to choose the right members of the team based on both talent and cost.
When you are working on an online course, you usually need a couple of talents. You need a writer, instructional designer, graphic artist, voice-over talent, multimedia specialist, quality assurance specialist, etc. Each of these professionals plays a key role in the completion of an elearning course. This list does not even include a game developer or an animator – which is usually needed for gamification or simulations in an online course. All of these talents are remarkable on their own but when put together in one team, it can be a challenge to manage.
First of all, you have to deal with the diverse culture and background of everyone. That could mean you follow different work ethics. Not only that, it is also possible that everyone works in different time zones. That means it can be hard to meet with all members of the team at the same time.
Despite these challenges, there are 4 tips that you can follow to help you manage your remote elearning team effectively.
Centralize everything
Start by making sure that everything is centralized. Come up with a workflow or process that is clear and easy for everyone to follow. Then, choose a platform that you can use to centralize everything. There are several platforms and software programs that you can use to put all the output that the team is generating. You have Google Drive for all the documents and spreadsheets. You also have Dropbox for images and files. There are also other collaboration sites like Trello or Asana that allows everyone to discuss and exchange output every now and then.
Encourage transparency
Another thing that you have to do is to encourage transparency. With the programs that you have setup in place, make sure that everyone is cooperative enough to use it. Encourage each member to be transparent and put all their output, ideas, struggles, and issues out in the open. This way, everyone can help each other and share opinions to make the course creation move efficiently.
Make it mobile
The next tip that you can use is to make the team mobile. Make sure that all the platforms and tools that you will use to collaborate can be accessed through mobile devices. There should be notifications being sent to emails that can be viewed through a smartphone. Since everyone owns a mobile device, everyone can get access to updates from any member of the team. This will also allow you to make the necessary approvals whenever it is needed and regardless of where you are. That means the project will not be delayed in any way.
Evaluate the workflow process continuously
Finally, you have to make sure that the workflow is constantly updated. As new tools are added, new members recruited and new elearning course objectives are set, the workflow could use some improvement. This is how you can ensure that the collaboration of the team will not be compromised in any way and will always be efficient and productive.
In the end, the remote elearning team, no matter how talented each individual is, can only be successful if it is managed well. So follow these tips to help you utilize the team effectively.
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