JULY 2018CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM9students to connect with one another and with faculty. This is the digital "water cooler."· Result: Increased communication and knowledge sharing, leading to improved student satisfaction and increased academic success.To reach this result, University of Phoenix Research Institute and the Institute for the Future identified virtual collaboration as a critical skill needed for the future workforce in 2020, which will become increasingly more reliant on technology and distance communication. We define virtual collaboration as the ability to work productively, drive engagement and demonstrate presence as a member of a virtual team. As a leader of a virtual team, individuals need to develop strategies for engaging and motivating a dispersed group. The study found that to create effective virtual collaboration, institutions and organizations must create digital environments that promote productivity and wellbeing. Through this concept, social networking sites can serve as virtual water coolers that "provide a sense of camaraderie and enable students to demonstrate presence."As a leader in providing online higher education opportunities for working adults, University of Phoenix is an architect of virtual collaboration. In 2017, the University taught a reported 123,900 students, many of which juggle work responsibilities and care for dependents at home while earning a degree. Last year, 65 percent of students were over the age of 30, nearly a quarter was employed and nearly 33 percent had dependents. Pair that with the University's 11,854 faculty members, many of whom teach online, and you can understand why virtual collaboration is a priority.To serve this digital population, the University incorporated two strategies to develop a platform designed to increase virtual collaboration. The first was monthly study sessions on the University's Facebook page. These social engagement events were designed to encourage students to be proactive in completing their homework on weekends or during times when they are more prone to procrastination.Throughout the session, University of Phoenix staff and faculty members will post words of encouragement, study tips and provide support to students within the event. Topics and conversations include time management, study techniques and building a peer support network. Study session participants range from prospective students trying to understand student life to current students looking for study support and alumni offering wisdom and encouragement. The first study session was held in December 2016 and included 417 attendees. The sessions have been hosted monthly since, with roughly 1,200 to 2,000 students, on average, attending each month.The second initiative is the University's social network, PhoenixConnect. This social engagement platform features more than 800,000 students, alumni, faculty members and staff. Through PhoenixConnect, students can receive advice from faculty members and enjoy a true sense of community customized to their area of study, personal interests and career goals. Within PhoenixConnect, University of Phoenix provides more than 30 learning and support communities that students can join to engage with faculty members and students who can help you apply course knowledge to real-world situations. While the combined work of all stakeholders determines much of the success of an institution, leaders must remember that, while students are our clients and our audience, they also are stakeholders in their education. As we look to enhanced educational offerings for distance learners, we must look at how we can foster improved collaboration between students and between students and staff. As a leader of a virtual team, individuals need to develop strategies for engaging and motivating a dispersed group
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