Challenges facing group work online. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Bo; Kang, Haijun
• Is Part Of: Distance education. Volume 37:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 73
• Page End: 88
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Challenges -- commitment/responsibility -- communication/coordination -- leadership -- online group work -- structure/management; Distance education -- Periodicals; Distance education -- Australia -- Periodicals; 371.3505
• DOI: 10.1080/01587919.2016.1154781
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0158-7919

Abstract

Abstract: Online group work can be complicated because of its asynchronous characteristics and lack of physical presence, and its requirements for skills in handling technology, human relationships, and content-related tasks. This study focuses on the administrative, logistical and relationship-related challenges in online group work. Challenges in areas such as commitment/responsibility, communication/coordination, structure/management, and leadership are discussed; strategies for how to streamline the management of online group work, how to decrease unnecessary logistical load and extra layers of structure, and how to improve online group work through the design of the syllabus are presented. The study suggests that instructors split group work into individual portions, use peer evaluation, establish guidelines for communication, use tools such as Google Drive to streamline duplicate works, monitor the process of the group work, and give group members freedom, ownership, and autonomy in their group work.