Tips for Supervising Students Remotely

COMMUNICATE OPENLY AND OFTEN

Start the day off on the right foot with regular morning meetings to set the tone for the day.
Follow-up in the afternoon with a meeting to help answer questions and discuss any obstacles the student may be facing.
Ensure lines of communication are open throughout the day (if not by phone, through live chat or email). This does not mean micromanage – give the student the opportunity to learn, be successful and take ownership of the tasks/projects you have set out for them, however, be there to support the student when things trip them up.
Provide on-going feedback and guidance to ensure the student is on the right track and feels supported.

GET ORGANIZED

Create and follow a structured work plan so the student understands the expectations and next steps. This will empower the student to focus on goals to work toward throughout the work term.
Investing in technology to help with communication and progress on the work plan may help especially in a work-from-home arrangement. There are many affordable project management tools available online including Planner available through Microsoft 365.

BE PREPARED

If you do not have an on-boarding process, create one before the student begins their work-term or placement.
This should include work hours and terms, job responsibilities, and systems tutorials and/or manuals.
Also include provisions on how students will receive the technology they will need to work remotely and consider creating a New Student Checklist.
Modify existing processes where feasible as this can assist the student in making a smooth transition into your organization.
Create video tutorials or conduct video conference training sessions via online platforms including Microsoft Teams, Zoom or Go to Meeting.
Create a list of several projects and tasks for the student to work on as this will enable them to remain productive should a project be temporarily delayed.

HAVE EMPATHY

Accept that working from home is not necessarily an ideal situation and situations change from day to day. Know that the student on the work-term or placement wants to contribute the best they can to the overall organization’s goals.
Understand that students may already feel unsure about themselves as they enter a new workplace. Working remotely may add to this stress and lack of confidence.
Focusing on your team culture will help to make the student feel as though they are part of the larger team.
Schedule regular check-ins with your larger team and include the student so they get to know their new colleagues.

Onboarding Tips provided by CEWIL Canada, developed by Brock University

Additional Resources:

World Health Organization: Getting Your Workplace Ready for COVID-19

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