How to effectively collaborate with your teammates during virtual study groups?

With each passing day, our dependency on technology is increasing. Due to the pandemic, we are all living a virtual dream, everything from work to studies has been shifted to a virtual setup with people turning to webinars and video conferences to discuss the details of the work and so is the increase in the demand for virtual study groups.

When the work by companies is being done online then we can easily deduce that students might be completing their assignments and projects virtually too. Now in such a situation, it is important that you coordinate among yourselves, discuss the intrinsic details of the project and then present it in an effective manner. All this is not easy but Google is always there for our rescue. There are certain tools that make it possible for a large team to oversee the work of each other at the same time and leave comments as and when required.

So now you can easily collaborate with your teammates during the virtual study groups through Google sheets and then present your findings using Google Slides or Google Doc. All these tools are really easy to understand and they can improve your productivity manifolds.

What makes Google Sheets productive

Google sheets are just like Excel, very simple to understand, perfect for data compilation, and a go-to tool for analysis. And if you are a student who is handling multiple projects and is a part of a number of virtual study groups then it is recommended that you get a hang of Google sheets. Read further to know what makes Google Sheets so good.

Better Consolidation

Usually, projects are full of texts presented in a cluttered manner. When you look at such projects, it becomes difficult to understand and that’s when Google Sheets come to your rescue. These sheets have rows and columns which enables consolidation of data in a proper manner.

Easy to use

Working with Google Sheets is very easy. Everything from texts to numbers can be entered into the cells of the sheet. Depending on the amount and type of data you can add rows and columns, merge cells, depict the data using charts and tables to make the information more understandable.

Agility

These sheets enable you to use and even create customized filters for your data based on a number of different criteria. Filters make it possible for you to locate the data easily on a spreadsheet.

Simplicity at its best

Google spreadsheets are fairly simple to understand. You can easily enter data consisting of text which has no link to other elements in the sheet as well as the formulas that combine different cells to give results. When you go to a particular cell containing a formula, it highlights all the cells that have been used to get the result thereby making the understanding simpler.

Cloud and the cross-platform usage

The Google Sheets are entirely on the cloud which makes it possible for multiple members of virtual study groups to view the sheet and make changes as per their understanding. In addition to this, you can even access these sheets from any operating system, computer, and mobile at any time and download it for offline viewing.

Add-on feature

There is no denying the fact that all Google tools like Google Sheets, Google doc and Google slides are easy to use and their collaborative nature makes them a student’s favorite especially the ones that are a part of a virtual study group. But what sets them apart are two really interesting and the much-needed add-on features which are listed below.

• Notes

Even while reading an article we have the tendency of creating notes which help us to clear our doubts anytime. Similarly in the Google sheets, there is a ‘Notes section’ where you can plan your project by listing the steps in a proper manner. You can also put up small notes for your teammates to guide them and share an update about the project with them. Notes can make the way of working easier for all the members of the virtual study group.

• Comments

When you are working in a team, it is evident that all members will have their own viewpoints. At times when the project is still in progress and you wish to suggest additions to it then you can leave a comment. Comments auto format hyperlinks. Once you add a comment to a specific section of content, it gets highlighted to make it easier for a person to make the required changes. Even the name of the commenter is mentioned to make the tracking possible.

Keeping the pandemic situation and the transition to the virtual education system in mind, it is the right time for everyone to learn and get a hang of all the Google Tools. Their collaborative nature is something that can save time and even make the entire group coordinate well with each other. So it doesn’t matter if you are just a part of virtual study groups or you are working with a company as an employee, Google tools should be your go-to apps of all times. 

For more updates on the changes caused by the pandemic, dig in here:

• To webinar or not to webinar during lockdown
• Post COVID World: Changes led by trends and intelligent deductions
• What B-School trends to expect in the post COVID world?
• The gig economy is the answer to all your questions