Student teamwork: developing virtual support for team projects

Whatley, J 2006, 'Student teamwork: developing virtual support for team projects' , Interactive Technology and Smart Education, 3 (2) , pp. 157-165.

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Abstract

In the 21st century team working increasingly requires online cooperative skills as well as more traditional skills associated with face to face team working. Virtual team working differs from face to face team working in a number of respects, such as interpreting the alternatives to visual cues, adapting to synchronous communication, developing trust and cohesion and cultural interpretations. However, co-located student teams working within higher education can only simulate team working as it might be experienced in organisations today. For example, students can learn from their mistakes in a non-threatening environment, colleagues tend to be established friends and assessing teamwork encourages behaviour such as “free-riding”. Using a prototyping approach, which involves students and tutors, a system has been designed to support learners engaged in team working. This system helps students to achieve to their full potential and appreciate issues surrounding virtual teamwork. The Guardian Agent system enables teams to allocate project tasks and agree ground rules for the team according to individuals’ preferences. Results from four cycles of its use are presented, together with modifications arising from iterations of testing. The results show that students find the system useful in preparing for team working, and have encouraged further development of the system.

Item Type:	Article
Themes:	Subjects / Themes > L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education Subjects / Themes > Q Science > QA Mathematics > QA075 Electronic computers. Computer science > QA076 Computer software Subjects outside of the University Themes
Schools:	Schools > Salford Business School > Salford Business School Research Centre
Journal or Publication Title:	Interactive Technology and Smart Education
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Refereed:	Yes
ISSN:	17415659
Related URLs:	Publisher Publication
Depositing User:	H Kenna
Date Deposited:	21 Jan 2009 09:51
Last Modified:	16 Feb 2022 08:03
URI:	https://usir.salford.ac.uk/id/eprint/1211

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