Search

A SPIRIT THAT IS NOT AFRAID

Search
Home
Coronavirus
Community
Sports
Campus
Lifestyle
Opinion
Blogs
Video
Photo
Audio
About Us
Classifieds
Advertise

Auburn's News Source

The Auburn Plainsman

Tuesday, January 19, 2021 Print Edition

Send a News Tip
Donate
  • Coronavirus
  • Community
  • Campus
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinion
  • Video
  • Photo
  • About Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise
  • Community
  • Campus
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinion
  • Video
  • Photo
  • Audio
  • Blogs
  • About Us
  • Classifieds
  • Advertise

11/19/2020, 12:16pm

When remote work doesn’t work well

By Lydia McMullen | Lifestyle Writer
When remote work doesn’t work well
Megan Turbyfill

Auburn student in front of the computer overwhelmed by schoolwork on Nov. 16, 2020.

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Mail
  • Print

 With the introduction of health and safety risks, Wi-Fi failures and lack of face-to-face interaction, the difficulty to complete collaborative assignments has increased.

Melanie Layne, senior in social work, said group work has been much more difficult because you have to communicate via text messaging or set Zoom meetings.

Layne’s social work major is a small group of people, and she typically has classes with the same 10 students.

Before COVID-19, group projects were made difficult due to personality differences, different levels of work ethic and scheduling conflicts. Those problems have increased since the pandemic.

For Layne, the majority of her group assignments have been collaborative papers reminiscent of the type of paperwork social workers do. 

“In the real world as a social worker, you fill out paperwork, but not as a team,” Layne said. “That part has been weird.”

However, as the structure of the working world continues to adapt, Layne said learning how to communicate and work with others remotely will be helpful for her in the future.


Sign up for our newsletter

Get The Plainsman straight to your inbox.


Torr Coulthard, sophomore in aviation management, said the members in his group project for class communicated through GroupMe. This mode of communication made it more difficult to establish working relationships with group members.

“I had a problem getting in contact with somebody in my group, and I never knew who they were throughout the entire project,” Coulthard said. “I couldn’t go to them in class and ask them questions directly.”

Coulthard also experienced complications presenting in class. 

“We had to present over Zoom, and that was difficult because it’s a different style when you’re presenting online,” Coulthard said.

Although Coulthard experienced some difficulty in group work, he learned helpful online communication skills. 

Coulthard said using online platforms such as Zoom to hold meetings and communicate ideas has become normalized. Remote communication will be useful in the future for working people, he said.

“We can communicate online, and it’s a lot more comfortable than it was before,” Coulthard said.

Abby Chapin, junior in her second semester of nursing school, said her group work this semester was “doable” because online communication through Zoom has become more common. 

It was easy for her and her project partners to hold meetings and discuss ideas, she said. Chapin worked on two group papers with other nursing school students. 

“Zoom made it very possible to figure our stuff out rather than having to text and discuss through messages,” Chapin said. “I feel like it was almost helpful to just do it from home.”

Although her group had productive planning meetings, Chapin found it difficult to complete the actual writing for the papers because it is easier for her to work with people in person.

“If you see a person in class you can tell them your thoughts, but because we are on Zoom there is no face-to-face interaction,” Chapin said. “It was hard to get to know people, communicate and work well together.”

Share

Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.

Support The Plainsman

Lydia McMullen | Lifestyle Writer



Related Stories

Contributed by Taylor Duncan
Begining in 2016, Alternative Baseball has founded 70 teams across the country. 

Baseball creates opportunity for those with autism

By Emery Lay | Lifestyle Writer

Ben Madsen
Auburn soccer vs South Florida on Sunday, August 19, 2018, in Auburn, Ala. 
Photo: Wade Rackley /Auburn Athletics

Ben Madsen promoted to associate head coach

By Larry Robinson | Sports Writer

Tigers stand at attention during the national anthem in Auburn Baseball vs. Alabama A&M on Feb. 26, 2020 in Auburn, AL

SEC releases conference schedule for baseball

By Jake Weese | Sports Editor


The Auburn Plainsman welcomes thoughtful discussion on all of our stories, but please keep comments civil and on-topic.


Editor's Picks


1/19/2021, 2:30pm

Baseball creates opportunity for those with autism

By Emery Lay | Lifestyle Writer

1/19/2021, 1:01pm

SEC releases conference schedule for baseball


1/15/2021, 4:52pm

Auburn University extends remote operations through Jan. 31


1/15/2021, 12:31pm

Auburn softball's SEC schedule released


Virtual Print Edition


Plainsman Podcasts

The Auburn Plainsman To Homepage
  • About
  • Contact
  • Archives
  • Advertise
  • Letters

All Rights Reserved

© Copyright 2021 The Auburn Plainsman

Powered by Solutions by The State News.