Learning Team Dynamics: Team Communication

Learning Team Dynamics: Team Communication

Learning Team Dynamics: Team Communication

Introduction. For an adult learner on a tight schedule, traditional classroom education is nearly impossible. Online learning is often too impersonal, unless one is grouped into learning teams and interacts with one’s peers and has the opportunity to work together on group projects. Often the members of such a team are separated by great distance and are in different time zones. Essential to the success of the learning team is the communication that must be constant and consistent amongst its members.   Team communication can be conducted through forums, emails, telephone, and instant messaging. One of the first challenges facing a learning team are coordinating convenient times and methods to interact, and to be productive, an outline of what should be discussed during those times.

Scheduling. Once a learning team is established, and the members have introduced themselves, one of the primary concerns is scheduling. Members in different time zones must find an overlap between their waking hours, and then rule out conflicting obligations within those hours such as work and family commitments. It may be the case that there is very little available time in which all participants are awake, off work, and unoccupied with the daily routines in their respective locations.

Method. Once a schedule is established, the members must commit to it so that work may progress in an orderly, productive manner. Much of how effective the interaction is will be dependant upon the method by which the members choose to interact.

Posting to Forums. Posting to forums has the advantage of continuous documentation of what was written, by whom, and is easily reviewed. A forum for the learning team can, unfortunately, get unruly as postings and threads continue to increase. Lack of organization in communication leads to the destruction of the purpose for which it is intended: to communicate. It is very difficult to find information in...