Engaging Students on Virtual Global Leadership Teams

Engaging Students on Virtual Global Leadership

TeamsSandi Deacon Carr, Ph.D.

Yoo Jin Chung, Ed.D.

Aloha!

OB460: The Leadership Challenge

SMG Leadership Course Course design - Engagement Model Looking to challenge students

– Build leadership capabilities– Expand global interactions and

diversity– Utilize technology in innovative ways

An Engagement Model of Learning

•Probe and inquire•Think critically, creatively•Analyze and synthesize•Apply knowledge inmeaningful contexts•Practice new behaviors •Build new skills

3. Integrate & Improve

2. Extend/Apply

1. Prepare

•Gain foundational knowledge, information and ideas•Plan inquiry and generate insights•Learn how to learn cognitively, experientially, visually, through relationships, dialogue, etc. and integrate into a total learning experience

•Reflect & Assess in order to improve

•Integrate, synthesize and be open to changing how we think, feel and act

•Continuously validate by applying new knowledge, feelings, and actions

What We Did

Leadership Challenge– 20 students– Seniors and Juniors– SMG majors or minors– Traditional age–

Leadership & Management– 20 students – Seniors and Juniors– From diverse backgrounds,

cultures, experiences

Virtual Team Leadership Training Module Project

The Project

Select a leadership or management topic

Design and execute a Training Module– 20 minutes to deliver– Must have research support– Must include an interactive component – Delivered simultaneously to both

classrooms via video conference– Evaluate your work

Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership

1. Modeling the Way– Setting the Example– Achieving Small Wins

2. Inspiring a Shared Vision– Envisioning the Future– Enlisting Others

3. Challenging the Process– Searching for Challenging

Opportunities– Experimenting & Taking

Risks

4. Enabling Others To Act– Fostering Collaboration– Strengthening Others

5. Encouraging The Heart– Recognizing Individual

Contributions– Celebrating Team

Accomplishments

Getting the Teams Started

Used Google+ platform– No cost to students– Can create “communities” easily– Able to write, comment, post photos, videos,

and video conference

Virtual Team building Activities – 5 different activities over 2-3 week period– Designed to:

• Facilitate introductions (posting/commenting, video uploads)

• Use different features of the technology tool• Start the brainstorming on the project ideas

Google+ Team Building Activities

Google+ Team Building Activities

Challenges

Time difference – 5 hours Asynchronous work Technology – differences in

familiarity and use of technology tools

Diversity Initiative

Resolving the Challenges

Time difference – negotiating virtual meeting times, deadlines, etc.

Asynchronous work – building trust, finding better ways to communicate (post v. video)

Technology – many moved from google+ to Facebook for better communication

Diversity – learning to work with others who have different priorities, work styles, etc. and doing so without ever meeting in person

Initiative – they had to be creative, take initiative

Improving Communication through Videos

Lessons Learned - Students

Lessons Learned - Faculty

Logistical Perspectives • Keeping the lines of communication open with students.

• Intricate coordination with partnered faculty, coordinators, and students.

• Extra planning time to ensure smooth delivery of technology-driven presentations.

Pedagogical Perspectives• Allowing students to make mistakes and encouraging them to learn from them.

• Keeping emphasis on process and leadership!

Next Steps

• Fine-tune Technology: Make the virtual communication/meeting tools more user-friendly in classrooms.

• Foster Collaboration: Cross-departmental/school collaboration can contribute to increase diversity in virtual team experience.

• Broaden Partnership: The virtual team initiative can not only be applied to broaden partnerships with universities abroad but also to build innovative collaboration with industry.

Questions?