Revision as of 13:18, 20 October 2020

Welcome to GC Remote Working

This new forum was created by experts at Shared Services Canada in an effort to help GC workers newly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic who find themselves working remotely.

This is an unprecedented situation; and one which is continually evolving. Remote workers need easy access to the latest information on the available tools and solutions as well as tips, best practices and updates.

Our aim with GC Remote Working is to gather the relevant remote working information in one place. We are only getting started. Our content is based on available information from all corners of the Government of Canada.

We plan to dive into topics such as security, information and document management, making “smart” use of your smart phone, using alternative tools and an introduction to Microsoft Office 365 and Teams.

Bookmark this page and check back often for more content as the situation evolves.

If you have tips and trick you would like to share, please send us an e-mail.

Second Languages and Remote Working

Maintaining a second language is challenging when remote working. You are isolated from your colleagues and away from your normal work environment. It’s more challenging to practice. Finding ways to learn or maintain a second language may be different now, but there are still ways the Government of Canada is supporting the effort.

Online Learning Resources

The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) announced that all classroom courses onsite events and in person programs are suspended until further notice. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the CSPS has made available virtual events and online courses, including self paced required training and language maintenance tools.

The School offers free, online self-assessment tools, and online language learning including self-directed evaluation simulations and interactive tools designed to improve oral and written comprehension, pronunciation, grammar, written expression and fluency in the second official language.

Find out what is on offer here: Learning path for maintaining your second language

Second Language Self Assessment

The Public Service Commission (PSC) also offers online self-assessment tests for written expression and reading comprehension so you can practice before you take official second language tests. These tests give you an idea of the level (A, B or C) you might attain on the official test, provide unofficial results, are various lengths and duration and are available online. Self-assessment tests in your second language

Remote Language Testing

Human resources specialists and others can learn more about second language testing during Covid-19. The Public Service Commission developed online testing as a temporary measure to help departments staff bilingual positions while the situation related to COVID-19 is ongoing. This includes second language interview guides and test for written expression and reading comprehension.

Covid-19 Second language Tests

Covid-19 Glossary in Two Languages

COVID-19 is a global situation and it requires vocabulary that is understood by everyone. In Canada, this means consistent terminology in both official languages. To make it easier, a glossary was created as a tool for language professionals and communicators where you will find terms from the fields of medicine, sociology and politics, among others.

New glossary on the COVID-19 pandemic

Topics:

Mental Health

M365

Smartphone

AV Conferencing

Virtual Teams

Information Management

Accessibility

Remote Office

Similar Communities and Forums

Connect here:

Medium: @flexgc.canada
Twitter: @FlexGCinfo
GCcollab: Flex GC group

Connect here:

Twitter

Community of Practice

We joined in on the May 21st M365 Community of Practice meeting. We invited our friends leading the GC Flex initiative to present on team charters and trusted communications as it relates to remote working. Check out the recording here. Please note that you require a gccollab account for access.

Attributions and Sources

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 <br>
-== Leading a Virtual Team ==
+== Second Languages and Remote Working ==
-Leading teams virtually presents new challenges to leaders and managers who must successfully manage people separated by distance, varying working hours and often, time zones. Building a strong team is challenging but even more complex in the case of a virtual team.
+Maintaining a second language is challenging when remote working. You are isolated from your colleagues and away from your normal work environment. It’s more challenging to practice.
+Finding ways to learn or maintain a second language may be different now, but there are still ways the Government of Canada is supporting the effort.
-In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the move to remote work, The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) took the lead through their GCcampus learning platform to help public service managers better manage their teams virtually.
+'''Online Learning Resources'''
-GC managers and leaders can log in to create an account to access the School's online offerings -- from online courses to podcasts to job aids. The School continues to create learning opportunities and tools to support managers during the COVID-19 pandemic so check the [https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/Catalogue/topics-eng.aspx Learning catalogue] to stay up to date on new products.
+The Canada School of Public Service (CSPS) announced that all classroom courses onsite events and in person programs are suspended until further notice. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the CSPS has made available virtual events and online courses, including self paced required training and language maintenance tools.
-'''Learning Path for Virtual Managers:'''
+The School offers free, online self-assessment tools, and online language learning including self-directed evaluation simulations and interactive tools designed to improve oral and written comprehension, pronunciation, grammar, written expression and fluency in the second official language.
-CSPS has created a special Learning Path for managers leading teams virtually which includes two courses and a webcast focused on best practices in remote management and how to build and work with effective teams.
-*[https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/Catalogue/courses-eng.aspx?code=X175 Establishing Effective Virtual Teams (X175) ]
-*[https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/Catalogue/courses-eng.aspx?code=X167 Building and Leading Successful Teams (X167) ]
-*[http://collaboratevideo.net/csps-efpc/2019-10-30r Best Practices for Virtual Teams (webcast) ]
-'''Podcasts'''
+Find out what is on offer here: [https://cepublic.myschool-monecole.ca/ct.asp?id=588B67D46F6D2FEFFB01F2E1A815DA4D22FE662395134602B5459457EDFDCAD4DE412900D4611D978810B352FE53C249DA08DCE111FC488A336B27B6B227D4B1&ct=4aeUsy0AAABCWmgzMUFZJlNZe1eFLAAADBmAAAOAEC%2flTMAgACGqaNqb1T9I1NP1QpkxMgyM9cl2LSMIvkPI1XV6Q%2bjeatI1ThsSj%2bLuSKcKEg9q8KWA Learning path for maintaining your second language]
-The School also has two podcasts focused on virtual leadership.
-[https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/podcasts/innovate8-eng.aspx Innovate on Demand: Virtual Leadership]  is a podcast featuring Simon Gascon, Director of IT Research at Employment and Social Development Canada, on his experience as a virtual leader. The podcast is just under an hour.
-How to Survive as an Executive: Leading Remotely in a Crisis discusses how the  Government of Canada pivoted quickly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From coast to coast to coast, executives led their teams in transitioning to home offices while continuing to serve Canadians and adapt to the national lockdown. This conversation addresses:
-*the phases that executives and their teams may experience
-*coping strategies
-*the importance of communication and staying connected
-[https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/podcasts/survive-executive1-eng.aspx Check here for more information].
+'''Second Language Self Assessment'''
-The GCFlex group shared a “Leading Remote Teams: Navigating the COVID-19 Crisis” webinar packed with excellent resources for managers.  You can watch it on the [https://www.ecornell.com/covid19-resources/#knGlobalReg Cornell ILR Executive Education website]
+The Public Service Commission (PSC) also offers online self-assessment tests for written expression and reading comprehension so you can practice before you take official second language tests.
+These tests give you an idea of the level (A, B or C) you might attain on the official test, provide unofficial results, are various lengths and duration and are available online.
+[https://cepublic.myschool-monecole.ca/ct.asp?id=9DF994ADFCA5CBD164B8C655D69259C0B76E14555B3E474F31CE676B46A027952F46152EB936E76B1048F83B84625B60FD94F4AD19DEAD2AFDDB2C2CA546B0C0&ct=4aeUs30AAABCWmgzMUFZJlNZEbOt2gAAHRmAAAOAED%2fn34AgAGoaGqNHkJk0MhDQSfqmnpAAd3iAfY19Q4MmqYfbLY6IwLhUMcT5ssxTxkK3TBIp1%2bWbGqbpIafJGg2Z8OJ1vKuPYSEF1JslpDfLs3cDSZFPxdyRThQkBGzrdoA%3d Self-assessment tests in your second language]
-Cornell faculty provided strategies to help leaders “rise to the challenge of leading remote teams, and keeping them engaged and productive in these uncertain times.” One of the GCflex group’s members also wrote an article with 5 key takeaways and specific tooling and resource suggestions which is available in both official languages.
+'''Remote Language Testing'''
-[https://medium.com/@free.agent.esr/leading-remote-teams-a82440753540 English]
+Human resources specialists and others can learn more about second language testing during Covid-19. The Public Service Commission developed online testing as a temporary measure to help departments staff bilingual positions while the situation related to COVID-19 is ongoing. This includes second language interview guides and test for written expression and reading comprehension.
-[https://medium.com/@free.agent.esr/diriger-des-%C3%A9quipes-%C3%A0-distance-b4529d507bec French]
-'''Job Aides'''
+[https://www.canada.ca/en/public-service-commission/information-human-resources-specialists/new-second-language-tests-covid19.html Covid-19 Second language Tests]
-CSPC wrote a series of job aids --  tools to help you carry out your everyday responsibilities – related to virtual team management. They include quick reference tools, checklists, decision trees and worksheets.
+'''Covid-19 Glossary in Two Languages'''
-The series related to virtual teams includes topics like:
-*Helping People Through Transition,
+COVID-19 is a global situation and it requires vocabulary that is understood by everyone. In Canada, this means consistent terminology in both official languages. To make it easier, a glossary was created as a tool for language professionals and communicators where you will find terms from the fields of medicine, sociology and politics, among others.
-*a Virtual Team Tool kit,
-*Civility and Respect at Work,
-*Do’s and Don’ts in Remote Work, and
-*Finding Opportunities in Challenging Times.
-To access [https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/Tools/jobaids-eng.aspx these job aids ], you will be prompted to log in to your [https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/gccampus-eng.aspx GCcampus account]. Find the whole series here:
+[https://cepublic.myschool-monecole.ca/ct.asp?id=AAD18DC61A403F4D3F0525D5AA73E5C2FB473C77D13FCA02B495D0F7E012A97D3F7EF058EB1403CA1FB0C152963752F2033FC0B93FD6F8B147275B1EAF7B8D9F&ct=4aeUsz8AAABCWmgzMUFZJlNZneyRfgAADhmAAAOgMD7n34AgAFRQABoGTIRCep6TxNBDGgueWVOlSlB8DW6rHBxsX%2fYfA45DG3FtO1zKxTqlgFKMhfQGrHxdyRThQkJ3skX4 New glossary on the COVID-19 pandemic]
-'''Busrides'''
-Busrides is new page built in collaboration with public servants interested in sharing resources to help navigate remote work. Busrides offers short segments on digital topics and modern government that appeal to multiple learning styles. For now, Busrides is just getting started,  but additional resources will be added.
-[https://busrides-trajetsenbus.ca/ Check it out here].
-'''Coming Up …'''
-The CSPS is presenting “EXecuTALK: Beyond 2020 – Leading Through the Unknown” a webcast aimed at Executives who want to experience a conversation about how leaders prepare for the future in a time of uncertainty on September 28, from 1:30 – 2 pm ET.
-Join Kristel Van der Elst, Director General of Policy Horizons Canada, who is leading a conversation about the changes spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, how those changes may affect the work of Canada's public service leadership, and how to prepare for the future.
-You must register before 10 am on the day of the webcast.
-[https://www.csps-efpc.gc.ca/events/executalk/beyond-2020-lead-eng.aspx Link here].
 <br>

Difference between revisions of "GC Remote Working/Home"