The Future of Work: What Google Shows Us About the Present and Future of Online Collaboration

Abstract

Because students enroll in higher education to become competitive in the job market, university courses emphasize transferrable skills such as strong communication and critical thinking. How do these skills transfer in the knowledge work environment that characterizes most careers? In this paper the author reviews the literature of the current and future workplace environment most college graduates will enter and from this review poses online collaboration as one of the most important skills to future employees. Using Google work culture and applications as a model for effective online collaboration, the author offers frameworks, activities, and examples for strengthening students’ online collaboration skills. This author demonstrates how Google Applications such as Slides, Drive, and Docs can be used in higher education classes to facilitate the online collaboration skills valued in the literature review.