Great teamwork relies on well organised processes, proactive communication, collaborative sharing, and effective feedback. To foster communication for remote collaboration, it is important to create a culture in which trainees and trainers know how to communicate effectively through a virtual learning environment. It is important to have trainees feel that this is not a one-sided experience, but a dynamic one that depends on their involvement

One change could be to move away from traditional channels that support only one-way communication (emails) toward more interactive platforms (Slack, Microsoft Teams/ Google Meet/ Zoom).

The platform itself should be seen as the “playing field” to set up processes, communicate, share as well as to give feedback, and at the same time, be flexible enough for individual working styles. Platforms like Teams or Slack are good examples as they offer not only a wide enough space for different groups and 1:1 chats but also are open enough for integrations with many other tools depending on the needs of the group.  

In a Practice Enterprise environment, the trainees are the ‘employees’ and ‘managers’ of their business. They work in teams undertaking the tasks required by a particular PE department, such as Finance and Purchasing, Administration, Human Relations, and Sales and Marketing.

Each trainee can select or are given a role within the PE based on PE job vacancies. Once this decision is made, they spend time in each department, or in one targeted department. Like real employees, they not only demonstrate their ability to complete a wide range of tasks, but they also learn the importance of teamwork, business communication, goal setting, business planning, time management, and the numerous skills required to improve employability.

In this assignment, trainees negotiate which department and which role they would like to play in the PE team. This is done using the Slack messaging system. Once roles are agreed, the trainees then role-play a PE team meeting via a video conferencing tool such as Zoom (or Teams/Meet) in which they focus on the management plan of their PE and PE members’ roles & responsibilities. With support from the PE trainer, team leaders and members can identify all aspects of the plan and allocate tasks to the most appropriate team members.

1. Before trainees start using online collaboration tools (Slack, Meet/ Zoom/ Teams), they should read” getting started guides” or watch tutorials. There are numerous materials online on YouTube or Teams, Slack, Zoom, Meet.
2. Trainees should not only know a technical part of using an online collaboration platform. The social part is even more important. Trainees must know etiquette for remote live meetings.
3. Trainers play the role of a mentor: motivating, challenging, and supporting the trainees as they take on roles and responsibilities. Initially the trainer will take a strong role in directing and structuring the Practice Enterprise activities.
4. To have a smooth start, trainees must make sure they can access all tools. Trainers should be aware of student accessibility concerns.
5. To make online participation on Slack more interactive, trainers should prepare engagement points during the online sessions which allow them to check in how remote trainees are doing e.g., polls or asking a question in the chat (and giving time for responses). Polling tools give all trainees a chance to get involved. They are also useful if votes must be made as in the assignment of negotiating the PE roles. 
6. On Zoom/Teams/Meet, trainers should use interactive whiteboards or shared documents where all trainees could contribute and present their ideas. 
7. Most important that trainees can present back their work. It is important to include participation in online events in the PE management plan. There are numerous online trading events, trade fairs and competitions in the PEN Worldwide network where trainees can practice their digital skills.

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Knowledge:

• Aware of the meaning of non-verbal messages (e.g., smiley faces, emojis) 
• Aware of the advantages of using digital tools and technologies for remote collaboration
• Knowing how to use online tools in a collaborative context to plan and share tasks and responsibilities within a group of teammates.

Skills:

• Teamwork skills: learning to build and work in digital teams.
• Technology skills: learning to use a variety of tools.
• Planning and collaboration skills: using online learning tools to organise processes, generate ideas, share opinions and feedback.
• Problem-solving skills: learning to make decisions and overcome obstacles.

Attitude:

• Encourages everyone to express their own opinions when collaborating in digital environments.
• Open to using interactive communication platforms for fostering collaboration between the members of a team

This real-world task incorporates practices that trainees will engage in after leaving the PE. Working together through interactive platforms gives a realistic insight into digital teams working, and role playing a specific role can give perspective on how individuals work together in a team.