Blog Posts About: workplace

New Video Pack: Productivity and Communication

We recently created Video Packs, which make it easier to find and use related Common Craft videos. They share the same videos in our library, but are conveniently organized into a variety of categories.

Yesterday, we published a new pack called "Productivity and Communication". This video pack prepares learners for the workplace by explaining concepts behind common tools and ideas related to being productive and communicating clearly.

There are currently 15 videos in the Productivity and Communication Pack.

They are:

  • Working as a Team
  • Project Management Basics
  • Presentation Planning
  • Clear Communication in Presentations
  • Clear Communication in Email
  • Spreadsheets
  • Online vs. Local Email
  • Online vs. Local Documents
  • Flowcharts
  • Web Conferencing and Webinars
  • Screencasting
  • Agile Methodology

Go to the Productivity and Communication Pack

Using Video Packs is easy because each video opens right on the page:

All Packs

 

Free Webinar: Explaining COVID Workplace Policies

This is your invitation to join me for a free, 30-minute webinar that will help you get a head start on communicating COVID-19 workplace policies.

As employees return to the workplace, organizations will need to clearly communicate new policies related to COVID-19. This free webinar will give you a head start in developing these communications.

Each attendee will receive the COVID Communication Kit, which is provided by Common Craft free of charge. The downloadable kit includes:

  • Over 100 COVID-related Common Craft Style images (hi-res PNG) 
  • Ready-made videos that succinctly explain masks, contact tracing, social distancing, etc.
  • PowerPoint presentations that provide a starting point for your message
  • Templates for clear communication of policies

All materials in the kit are licensed for reuse, remixing, and sharing. Use our work and media as a starting point for your project. 

Enroll here

Enroll for the Free Webinar

New Video on VPNs!

Based on suggestions and votes from Common Craft members, we just published a new video called Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) - Explained by Common Craft.  

 
What it Teaches: This video explains the business use of Virtual Private Networks. It tells the story of Candice who discovers her new employer’s VPN, which means she can securely connect to the company network over the Internet. 
 
• Why normal Internet connections are not secure for business information
• Why VPNs make sense for businesses
• How VPNs connect employees and remote offices to headquarters
• How encryption works to make information secure on the Internet
 
This video is part of a series on Internet basics and is meant for use in technology education. Corporate trainers, teachers and librarians will find it useful for quickly introducing VPNs.
 
 

New Video: Crowdsourcing Explained by Common Craft

Today we’re announcing a new video: Crowdsourcing - Explained by Common Craft

 

These days crowdsourcing is changing how we think about getting things done. This video follows the story of a person who discovers how a “crowd” of strangers can help him accomplish a goal. It teaches:
 
• Why crowdsourcing is needed
• How goals are accomplished using crowdsourcing
• How crowdsourcing helps with speed, quality and cost
• What motivates crowd members to contribute
• How crowdfunding helps turn ideas into reality
 
This video title was suggested by Common Craft members and is meant to help students, colleagues and trainees understand an important and transformational trend. 
 
Book Update
 
The Art of Explanation is coming out on October 8th!  Soon we will receive the “page proofs” for the book, which are sent as hard copies and show how the pages will look in the finished product.  Reviewing the proofs are really our last step in production.  After that, it’s out of our hands. 
 
Become an Explanation Specialist
 
The book has had a big influence in how we think about Common Craft’s future.  We’ve come to believe that explanation is a fundamental and long neglected skill for professionals.  As you’ll see in coming months, we’re orienting Common Craft around this idea:
 
We want the world to be a more understandable place to live and work.  To do that, we need better explanations - and that’s Common Craft’s goal, to provide tools and resources for the growing number of explanation specialists.