Advanced Issues in Telecommuting

Come discuss issues in telecommuting.  For experienced telecommuters, and those new to telecommuting.  Get the latest thinking from someone who works in a virtual office. Then talk about time off, vacation, working 9-5 issues, communicating via distance with work colleagues; face-to-face meetings with work colleagues; developing local professional contacts; creating social contacts in your community; and rebuilding community issues related to telecommuting.

Then discover how organizations will become virtual, and the implications for both organizations and workers.

Includes the instructors’ fascinating book “Nine Shift: Work, life and education in the 21st century.”

Month-long online course ; offered 4 times a year (April, June, August, November); $195; William A. Draves, lead instructor.

 outlineCourse Agenda

Unit 1
Advanced Issues in Telecommuting
Addressing overwork, guilt and stress
Cabin fever: when, how often and how to get out of the house
Relating to office workers in your organization
Gaining CEO and leadership support for telecommuting

Unit 2
New knowledge skills
Developing and maintaining self discipline
Creating your own professional development network
Creating social contacts in your community
Redefining your relationship with your organization

Unit 3
Becoming a Virtual Organization
Understanding the transition and planning
Strategic planning and organizational change
Creating change within business organizations

Unit 4
Nine Shift: Work in the 21st Century
Implications for work and travel
How dense communities replace suburbs
Rebuilding Community: community issues related to telecommuting
The future of telecommuting

Question MarkAbout online learning

Online learning is a fun, enjoyable and very productive way to learn. Millions of people are learning online each year. You will engage with the instructor and other participants. You will get to know your instructor and other participants. You may make friends.  It’s easy. It’s fun. 

GearsHow the Course Works

It is easy to participate in your online course. After you register, you will be given a web address to go to get into your online classroom.  You will have a password and use your email address and password to gain access.

Once inside the online classroom, here’s what you can expect.

CalendarParticipate when you want

Participants can participate as little or as much as you want.
You can participate any time of day or evening. The online classroom is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
There are no live real-time requirements or meetings. You decide when you participate.
For the best learning, participants should log into the course on 2-3 different days of the week.

ChecklistWhat you will do

For each Unit, you will:

  • Read the print readings (about 20 pages a week)
  • Have the option of accessing the online readings
  • Listen to the audio presentation for the Unit and view the slides
  • Have the option of taking a self-quiz to see how much you have learned
  • Engage in written online discussion with your instructor and other participants

For best learning, you should make one or more comments at 2-3 different times each week.
The content (readings, audio lectures, slides) and self quizzes are accessible for the entire course, so you can work ahead, or go back and review again, at your convenience.

DiscussionDiscussion

The Discussion for each Unit lasts one week. All comments are made in writing and can be made at any time of the day or night.

Your instructor will log into the Discussion area at least once a day and answer questions, make comments, and respond to comments by you and the other participants.

We encourage you to make 2-3 comments each week to maximize your learning and enjoyment of the course.

It’s easy. It’s fun.

Next offering(s):
August 2-August 28, 2010

About Your Instructors

William A. DravesWilliam A. Draves is a leading futurist, speaker and co-author of “Nine Shift: Work, life and education in the 21st century.”

He has been working from home for over ten years and worked with his Board of Directors and Senior Management Team to transition to a virtual organization in 1998. 

He has keynoted conferences and done professional development seminars in Russia, Germany, England, Slovenia, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and all over Canada and the United States.

His NineShift blog has more than 2,000 readers a month, and he is the most quoted authority on lifelong learning in the nation’s media, having been interviewed by The New York Times, BBC, Wall Street Journal, NBC Night News and other news organizations.

Directional ArrowsCourse Objectives

  • To assist participants in exploring advanced issues related to telecommuting;
  • To provide participants with the understanding of how to communicate and relate within a corporate culture of an office based organization;
  • To discuss the most common issues and concerns of telecommuters,including face-to-face meetings, overwork, the new work flow, and creating social contacts in the community;
  • To give participants an understanding of how organizational structures are moving from the pyramid to a network, from office-based to virtual organizations;
  • To provide participants with knowledge about new skills evolving for knowledge workers.

Puzzle PiecesCourse Outcomes

At the end of this course, you will:

  • Possess the information necessary to discuss advanced issues related to telecommuting and working as a telecommuter.
  • Be able to define and characterize your own issues and concerns about telecommuting within the corporate culture of an office-based organization.
  • Understand some of the new knowledge skills evolving in virtual organizations.
  • Understand common issues affecting telecommuters and how others are addressing those issues.