Workplace Effectiveness: Strategies for Managing Digital Overload

• Do you wish you could be less overwhelmed by email?
• Would you like to stay caught up on social media and blogs?
• Do you wish that you could get away from your technology once in a while?

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you may be suffering from  digital information overload. Sometimes we push the boundaries of digital communication too far. Emails, webinars, listservs, blogs, Twitter, and Facebook – there are so many sources of digital information that it can cause us to short circuit. The result is increased stress and decreased productivity. But you can take control of the situation by learning valuable strategies for workplace effectiveness with digital information.

Course Description: This 4 week online course will provide readings, practical assignments, two online meetings and an opportunity for personal reflection to help learners develop better skills and habits when it comes to managing digital information. Participants will be given a chance to practice and discuss strategies relating to email management, prioritization of information, and better scheduling practices. Learn more about how to increase effectiveness and reduce stress through the options available for dealing with digital information.

Course Outline: When you log in to the Infopeople online learning site, you will see weekly modules with these topics:

• Week 1: Identifying the Causes of Digital Overload
  • Common causes of digital overload
  • Challenges related to digital overload
  • Prioritizing digital information
• Week 2: Adopting Better Habits
  • Good behaviors and habits for managing digital information
  • Taking breaks from technology
  • Setting boundaries for managing digital information

• Week 3: Embracing Discipline & Time Management
  • Applying discipline to personal information management
  • Creating a schedule to manage digital information more effectively
  • Using technology features to prioritize information
• Week 4: Leveraging Technology & Training
  • Leveraging technology tools to manage digital information
  • Training resources related to preventing digital overload
  • Personal goal setting to manage personal digital overload

Pre-course Assignment: Participants are asked to complete an inventory of all of the sources and streams of digital information they consume using this provided worksheet for guidance. This will take approximately 30 minutes to complete.

Time Required: To complete this course, you can expect to spend 2½ hours per week, for a total of ten course hours. Each week's module contains readings and various options for assignments, discussions, or online meetings. You can choose the options most relevant to your work and interests. Although you can work on each module at your own pace, at any hour of the day or night, it is recommended that you complete each week's work within that week to stay in sync with other learners.

Who Should Take This Course: Anyone who feels overwhelmed by the amount of digital information they are bombarded with from sources including email, social media, listservs, newsletters, and other online information channels.

Online Learning Details and System Requirements may be found at: infopeople.org/training/online_learning_details.

Learner Requirements: No additional requirements

After the official end date for the course, the instructor will be available for limited consultation and support for two more weeks, and the course material will stay up for an additional two weeks after that. These extra weeks give those who have fallen behind time to work independently to complete the course.

Keywords: Efficiency, Social media, Technology