In many online courses, the use of teams has become a popular method of instruction in higher education. Working in teams has increased in a dramatic fashion because effective project teams have positive outcomes such as increased project quality, enhanced team processes and skills of students, and better learning opportunities. Despite the literature emphasizing the advantages of teamwork, working in a team in online courses is still challenging because of team members’ disconnection due to differences in individual preferences, geographic location, time zone, and experience with use of technology. The purpose of this tool is to discuss the best practices to enhance student project team learning and performance in distance education courses.
Virtual teams add to competitive advantage
“In the competitive market , virtual teams represent a growing response to the need for fasting time-to-market, low-cost and rapid solutions to complex organizational problems.”
Ale Ebrahim, N., Ahmed, S., & Taha, Z. (2009). Virtual teams: a literature review. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 3(3), 2653-2669
Two example stories: 1. One successful global product development team in the study created an effective communication strategy. Members had weekly teleconferences where everyone came together to brainstorm and share ideas. In between meetings, team members communicated by email, instant messaging, the team’s intranet, telephone, and webinars. When asked (in an interview) what made the team so successful, one member stated, “There is very good knowledge transfer and cooperation among team members. Everyone shares information and works together. This is one of the best teams I have worked on.” 2. A member of a less effective team (in a different organization) reported that “We often don’t have the necessary information to do our work. There needs to be a way for people to respond to one another and provide feedback, as there really isn’t a way for people to communicate as a team collectively.”