Tools, tasks and social interaction for virtual teamwork

Introducing students to virtual teamwork and their successful dynamic requires carefully thought to team and task design, team culture and background, team technical skills, team training for relationship building, communication skills and collaborative working environments. This paper describes the design of a course assessment instrument that builds student practice in virtual team work using a variety of team and individual tasks supported by specially designed tools and virtual team environment. Underpinning the team building process, tasks that build reflective practice towards socio-emotional processes (relationship building, cohesion and trust) are used. Individuals are required to write a series of personal logs on the team workings, focusing on social mechanisms of communication and collaboration (awareness, conversation and coordination). Preliminary outcomes demonstrate student understandings of teamwork processes and improved course result.