Tools for Working from Home: Google Apps, Trello, and Zoom Course

Lesson 1 • The Remote Work Technology Landscape

Introduces the three core platforms and explains how they address communication, collaboration, and project management. Establishes context for all subsequent tool-specific learning.

Lesson 2 • Setting Up Your Trello Account

Covers Trello registration, workspace creation, and interface orientation. Students gain a working Trello environment ready for project exercises.

Lesson 3 • Building a Productive Home Office Setup

Addresses hardware, internet, and ergonomic requirements that affect tool performance. Students assess and optimise their physical workspace for remote productivity.

Lesson 4 • Setting Up Your Zoom Account

Walks through Zoom account creation, desktop client installation, and audio/video testing. Students confirm a functional meeting environment before any live sessions.

Lesson 1 • Uploading and Converting Files

Covers uploading local files, converting Office formats, and managing storage quotas. Students handle cross-format workflows common in mixed-tool teams.

Lesson 2 • Version History and File Recovery

Demonstrates how to view, restore, and name file versions to prevent data loss. Students recover from accidental edits using Drive's built-in version control.

Lesson 3 • Navigating Google Drive

Introduces the Drive interface, storage structure, and key navigation features. Familiarity with Drive layout is prerequisite to all file-creation tasks ahead.

Lesson 4 • Sharing and Permission Controls

Explains sharing links, permission levels, and expiration settings to protect sensitive content. Students apply least-privilege principles to real sharing scenarios.

Lesson 1 • Document Templates and Automation

Introduces built-in templates, custom template creation, and basic macro recording. Reusable templates accelerate recurring document tasks across the team.

Lesson 2 • Working with Tables and Images

Teaches inserting and formatting tables, images, and drawings to enrich document content. Visual elements improve clarity in reports and proposals shared remotely.

Lesson 3 • Creating and Formatting Documents

Covers document creation, text formatting, styles, and page layout options. Strong formatting skills ensure documents are readable and professionally structured.

Lesson 4 • Real-Time Co-Editing and Comments

Explains simultaneous editing, cursor visibility, and the comment and suggestion workflow. Students practise asynchronous review cycles that replace in-person document reviews.

Lesson 1 • Charts and Data Visualisation

Teaches chart creation, customisation, and embedding to communicate data visually. Clear charts replace lengthy written explanations in remote status updates.

Lesson 2 • Google Sheets Fundamentals

Introduces the Sheets interface, data entry, and essential formulas for remote data tracking. A solid formula foundation supports the advanced Sheets features covered later.

Lesson 3 • Delivering and Sharing Presentations

Explains presenter view, audience Q&A, and export options for sharing slide decks remotely. Students practise presenting live and distributing decks in multiple formats.

Lesson 4 • Google Slides Presentation Basics

Covers slide creation, theme selection, layout options, and speaker notes in Google Slides. Students build a complete presentation structure before adding advanced elements.

Lesson 1 • Professional Email Communication

Teaches email etiquette, signature setup, and template creation for consistent remote communication. Professional email habits build credibility with distributed teammates and clients.

Lesson 2 • Gmail Productivity Essentials

Covers labels, filters, and inbox organisation strategies to reduce email overload. Efficient Gmail habits free time for deep work in a remote environment.

Lesson 3 • Starting and Managing Google Meet Calls

Covers launching Meet from Gmail and Calendar, managing participants, and using in-call controls. Students run structured video calls without relying on Zoom for internal meetings.

Lesson 4 • Google Chat for Team Messaging

Explains Google Chat spaces, direct messages, and integration with Drive and Meet. Chat reduces email volume by centralising quick team communication in one platform.

Lesson 1 • Designing Effective Trello Workflows

Teaches list structure patterns, card movement conventions, and workflow rules for common project types. A well-designed workflow reduces ambiguity and keeps remote teams aligned.

Lesson 2 • Trello Power-Ups and Integrations

Introduces Power-Ups for calendar view, voting, and Google Drive integration to extend Trello's capabilities. Students connect Trello to tools already learned, creating a unified workflow.

Lesson 3 • Enriching Cards with Details

Covers checklists, due dates, labels, attachments, and member assignments on Trello cards. Rich card details give teammates full context without requiring additional meetings.

Lesson 4 • Collaborating with Team Members in Trello

Explains inviting members, setting board permissions, and using comments and mentions. Students practise the communication patterns that replace status meetings in remote teams.

Lesson 1 • Hosting and Scheduling Zoom Meetings

Covers scheduling options, recurring meetings, calendar integration, and invitation best practices. Proper scheduling habits prevent no-shows and technical delays at meeting start.

Lesson 2 • In-Meeting Controls and Features

Explains host controls, participant management, reactions, and the in-meeting chat panel. Mastering these controls allows hosts to run smooth, professional sessions.

Lesson 3 • Breakout Rooms and Polls

Covers creating, assigning, and managing breakout rooms and launching polls for interactive sessions. These features transform passive meetings into engaging collaborative workshops.

Lesson 4 • Recording, Security, and Settings

Explains local and cloud recording, waiting rooms, passwords, and host security controls. Students apply security best practices to prevent unauthorised access to meetings.

Lesson 1 • Automating Repetitive Tasks with Zapier and Butler

Introduces Trello Butler automation and Zapier to connect apps and reduce manual steps. Automation frees team members from repetitive admin tasks in a remote environment.

Lesson 2 • Capstone: End-to-End Remote Project Simulation

Students execute a full project lifecycle using all three platforms, from kickoff meeting to final delivery. This simulation validates integrated competency across every tool covered in the course.

Lesson 3 • Connecting Google Drive and Trello

Demonstrates attaching Drive files to Trello cards, syncing folders, and maintaining a single source of truth. Students eliminate duplicate files and broken links across platforms.

Lesson 4 • Mapping Tools to Work Processes

Analyses which tool best serves each work activity and how to avoid tool overlap. A clear tool-to-task map reduces context switching and decision fatigue for remote teams.