Digital productivity and collaboration

Hybrid and remote learning and working require strong digital collaboration skills, to support your personal productivity but also the productivity of the teams you work within. 

Top tips:  

• Scheduling tools – Use Scheduling Assistant in Outlook Calendar and Teams or specialist tools to easily find available times and book meetings with colleagues or coursemates. 

• Collaborative brainstorming – Try Mural, OneNote or Miro for idea generation when you cannot all be in the same room.  

• Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Work – Balance live meetings and offline collaboration to increase productivity and improve inclusivity. 

Microsoft Teams is a widely used platform that supports group work and remote collaboration in academic and professional settings. 

Key Features: 

• Channels and Teams – Organise projects and group discussions by topic, module, or task. 

• Virtual Meetings – Use video conferencing tools, record sessions, share screens, and use live captions or chat. 

• File sharing and co-authoring – Work on documents together in real time using Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. 

While Microsoft Teams is commonly used other tools are also popular, depending on company preference and workflows: 

• Slack – Focuses on channel-based messaging, with strong integration with third-party apps like Google Drive, Zoom, and Trello. 

• Zoom – Known for reliable video conferencing, with features like breakout rooms and webinar hosting. 

• Google Workspace – Offers collaboration through Docs, Sheets, and Slides with seamless cloud sharing and commenting. 

• Asana, Trello, Monday.com, Teamwork.com – Project management platforms that support task tracking, deadlines, and team coordination. 

• Miro – A virtual whiteboard tool used for brainstorming, agile planning, and workshops. 

• Confluence – A collaborative documentation platform for creating, sharing, and organising knowledge bases, meeting notes, and project documentation.

• Notion – Combines notes, databases, task management, and wikis, for personal productivity and team knowledge sharing.