Abstract
Communication is the key aspect of a successful online learning team. Success or failure will be determined by the recognition of the importance, types, benefits, barriers, and reasons for failure in communication in the online learning environment. Once these aspects are recognized, a learning team will have the knowledge to empower themselves and other team members and be successful in reaching their desired outcome.
Effects of Communication in Online Learning Teams
Communication is a dialogue, verbal or written, between two or more people. Communication is a two-way street where both the sender and receiver must understand each other for an effective conversation and successful outcome. The focus in an online environment is geared towards written communication. The effect of communication amongst an online learning team is the key aspect to determine the success a team will achieve. The barriers and reasons why communication may fail must be overcome by the importance, methods, and benefits of effective team communication.
Importance of Communication
Without communication, a successful and effective online team environment would be nonexistent. In order to achieve a successful outcome of the team’s goals, open communication must be present. Even with differences among team members, they must realize the importance of achievement and that each team member “depends on cooperation and effective efforts” to reach the team’s goal (Dawson, 2005, p. 3). With open communication from day one, (a) roles will be set, (b) goals will be specified, (c) norms will be formed, and (d) the team members will be committed to their tasks. Roles establish group development by team members contributing their strengths to the responsibilities assigned to them. In order for a team to have direction both team goals and individual goals need to be established because “A team is not a team unless the members have a common purpose: (Temme...