Capitalizing On Virtual Teams Using Blackboard Marsha L. Bayless, Professor S. Ann Wilson, Associate Professor Department of General Business Stephen F. Austin State University T-Bug 2009
May 26, 2015
Capitalizing On Virtual Teams Using Blackboard
Marsha L. Bayless, Professor
S. Ann Wilson, Associate Professor
Department of General Business
Stephen F. Austin State University
T-Bug2009
Virtual Teams in Online Classes
Cons
Students want to work on their own
Trust issues with team members
Nonverbal communication is difficult
Pros
Students do not have to arrange face to face meeting
• Time
• Geography/Distance
• Schedules
Definition of A Virtual Team
Also known as a Geographically Dispersed Team (GDT) is a group of individuals who work across time, space, and organizational boundaries with links strengthened by webs of communication technology. They have complementary skills and are committed to a common purpose, have interdependent performance goals, and share an approach to work for which they hold themselves mutually accountable.
Source: McNamara, C. (n.d.)
Steps for Better Virtual Teams
Have a face to face meeting for teams to meet or offer a similar alternative
Have students do smaller activities to develop trust and confidence before beginning on larger activities
Promote student interaction in ways that you can view progress—such as through chats (you can view the logs) or discussions (you can view postings).
Steps Continued
Require a certain number of interactions, etc. or to follow a certain procedure (i.e. weekly postings)
Hold team members accountable
• Team evaluations (interim and final)
• Team points
• Team self-assessments
• Review team progress on chats/discussions
Presentation Focus Two Online Courses
Undergraduate
• GBU 321 Information Technology – students are junior and senior business majors. Most are General Business Majors.
Graduate
• BCM 578 Virtual Team Communication – students are in graduate programs such as MBA and MPA in College of Business and other programs in College of Education and the Division of Communication.
GBU 321
Creating Community
• Discussion board introduction with photos
• Select teams through team sign-up
Team Interaction
• Team Chat Room
• Team Discussion Board
• Mini-unit assignments
BCM 578
Building Trust
• Face to face meeting and alternatives
Non-Blackboard Communication Choices
• Meeting software programs
• Meetings in Second Life
Questions and Comments