December 4th, 2008 by Robin Green

One kind of team that is difficult to coordinate online is the project or product-development team. Many companies are experimenting with virtual worlds like Second Life to provide their employees with a 3D meeting space and collaborative learning system, but these virtual world software still has many obstacles to overcome.

One example of a successful project team is the Free Courseware Project in South Africa. This group was formed to promote free educational resources and online learning systems at the University of the Western Cape, a previously disadvantaged South African University.

Project teams work towards goals within a defined window of time. The Free Courseware Project, for example, has set its initial phase for implementing free software learning systems at two years. The tasks involved in project teams are typically non-routine, and individuals in this team are fresh and innovative thinkers. Results are specific and measurable, and the team may have the decision-making authority.

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December 4th, 2008 by Robin Green

Networked teams, very basically, are composed of a loose group of individuals collaborating to achieve a common goal. These teams can be arranged using a learning management system, and may form a complex group of individuals with different backgrounds, cultures, education and languages.

Of course, many virtual teams may be comprised of members from all over the map, but the networked team is hard to distinguish, since it is so fluid and members may come and go. A learning management system may serve an important role in keeping track of members, tasks and goals.

In contrast, parallel teams have a distinct membership, working in short term to develop suggestions for improvement in a process or system. One task of parallel teams, for example, may be to analyze the company purposes and functions of its existing learning management system, safety procedures, etc.

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December 4th, 2008 by Robin Green

Organizing a virtual team is a process made a great deal easier by a robust learning management system. Training for team members can be organized and performed internationally, linking a company learning management system to its various human resources departments and ERP systems, to perform multi-locational, cost-effective and efficient training.

But what kind of virtual team is right for your company purposes? There are a few basic types of virtual teams: networked teams, parallel teams, project and product-development teams, work or production teams, service teams, management teams, and action teams. Each serve a distinct purpose and may require various degrees of direct management and learning management system aid. Understanding the different functions of these virtual teams is the first step to ensuring success in your company’s virtual team.

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December 3rd, 2008 by Robin Green

Just as the LMS is an answer to the need for more organized and efficient large-scale learning systems, in many ways the virtual team is a product of globalization. Not only are companies coordinating their global activities to compete, but they are using virtual teams to find talent abroad and distribute their resources globally, collaborating with other companies and organizations.

The virtual team typically spans across the globe, and across cultures. A group’s lively dynamic is often the result of its varied team members and their multifarious perspectives. Therefore, virtual team members need to have excellent “soft” skills, such as communication, persuasion, negotiation, work etiquette, and cultural sensitivity. Use your LMS to organize team cultural sensitivity and communication training. Employees may organize technical training on their LMSs, but technical skills alone are certainly not adequate for a virtual team’s success.

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Coggno.com provides high-quality LMS platforms.

December 3rd, 2008 by Robin Green

When orchestrating and encouraging a virtual team, it’s important to communicate standard technical and “soft” team processes. The laying out of team processes is a important condition for team success that can be aided by an LMS. Not only can an LMS be used to provide information and guidance, but it can serve as a platform where team members can communicate with each other to plan, suggest, ask questions, etc.

When everyone knows what to expect, and what’s expected from them, a world of problems are avoided. Of course, teams may generate their own ideas for communication and collaboration, but these can be added to the LMS, or used to modify the already established processes later. When a team is just starting out, consistency and coherence are paramount.

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December 3rd, 2008 by Robin Green

In using a learning management system to mobilize a successful virtual team, keep in mind that certain factors should be set in place. An organization should possess the necessary resources, including accessible and efficient communication technologies, as well as technical training. Technical training can be administered via a learning management system or in a traditional, face-to-face training workshop.

Remember that for many of your employees, a virtual team may be a completely new concept. Many people may have no prior experience in learning management system collaboration or working in a virtual team–or even much experience in a traditional team. Building an environment of trust and group reliance is therefore essential. The establishment of trust can be facilitated by setting simple, clear goals for each member, and letting each experience the satisfaction of having completed the task and played their part in the group.

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Coggno.com offers world-class LMS platforms.

December 3rd, 2008 by Robin Green

In today’s globalized work environment, an LMS is a valuable tool for assigning and orchestrating virtual teams. Collaborative projects run smoothly when they are put together in a comprehensive, clearly-defined fashion. We’ve all had negative experiences with group projects. Someone ends up doing the most work, while another lags, and the rest find some place within that spectrum.

Using an LMS to administrate specific roles and tasks for each virtual team member is essential so that everyone has a fair share of the work, and an equal say in team decisions. Whether it’s in a company or a school-run LMS, employees and students will appreciate the effort put forth to administrate responsibilities for each virtual team member.

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October 8th, 2008 by Robin Green

How does one recognize filler in reading material and separate it from the important learning content? Filler takes many forms–especially in historical learning content. There are author’s asides, which are little extras that the author wanted to add to the main idea in the form of a side note, often the result of extensive research. Then there’s the background story that serves to illuminate some idea. If you already understand that idea, this becomes skimming material.

Another kind of filler is the insertion of extra details and unnecessary evidence to support an idea in the learning content. Sometimes authors get carried away, and you should feel free to skim the excessive information. And finally, there are exceptions. Historians want to make sure they are giving accurate information, so they often mention exceptions to whatever point they’re making.

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