When it comes to collaborative tasks, it is important to remember that everyone is in it together and there needs to be equal amounts of input into the task. In saying that, it is also a great way to distribute the responsibilities of a task, all the members of the group know what they are doing and what role they play in relation to the task. This can all be turned on its head when it is conducted in an online setting.
As we found out, our team was comprised of members from different parts of the country, so there lay an issue in itself. The main solution that we found was through the creation of a Facebook group where we could easily discuss ideas and share the artifacts that we had created. We were all active in the discussion process and provided input where needed. There was not much that we, as a group, disagreed on as we were mostly on the same page. We did have periodical online meetings through the Zoom video conferencing program so that we were able to discuss the main ideas in real time and not solely rely on the Facebook group. It was also a great way to see all the members of the group and not feel isolated from each other. By sharing and clarifying our ideas amongst ourselves, elements of our critical thinking had been enhanced (The University of Melbourne, n.d). I found that working in an environment like this was much more calming and did not hold the stressors that other group tasks have had in the past.
In many cases, working in a group online can feel like you are still isolated from people and feel like you are doing the work on your own. One way that can be a solution to this is to use a shared Google doc where everyone can contribute and make comments. By dividing up the different parts of the task, the participants will know exactly what they need to do (UNSW Sydney, 2015). The most obvious normality to working online is the use of online video conferencing programs like Zoom, Google Hangouts, and WebEx. By using these programs, the group becomes more connected and there is no miscommunication with ideas and improvements. Many schools today are using video conferencing programs to maintain the connection between the students and the teachers. If that option were not there, students would withdraw from their education and jeopardise their learning.
By having multiple options for collaboration and communication, the group was able to work in a manner that is similar to an in-person group task. In some cases, I forgot that we were in different parts of the country as there was always that opportunity to talk with the group and get feedback on my ideas. In a way, online collaboration is much more effective than in-person group tasks, as there is always that reminder popping up on your device.
References:
UNSW Sydney. (2015). Guide to group work. Retrieved from https://student.unsw.edu.au/groupwork
The University of Melbourne. (n.d.). Working in groups: How to work and contribute effectively in groups. Retrieved from http://services.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/529777/Working_in_Groups_Update_051112.pdf