Presentation from T-BUG 2009 (Texas Blackboard Users Group)

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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.)

4. 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).

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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

11. BCM 578 Building Trust Face to face meeting and alternatives Non-Blackboard Communication Choices Meeting software programs Meetings in Second Life

15. Questions and Comments