Reflection #3

Think back over the last two weeks and the subjects and our related discussions. We have defined online communities and discussed how to best organize and produce high performing teams in virtual environment. Now it is time to reflect back and wrap up all of these issues into one last reflection. Consider this one as the “last reflection” and focus on both how we have defined online communities and looked at the many variations of them as well as the complex, high performing team creation.

Now, what does all that mean to you? What are the big issues and ideas you have taken away from these two weeks of discussions? Finally, how does it apply to you? What will you do with this new knowledge base?


I learned that it is important to include a sense of community and to create team assignments in online courses.  Both help create a sense of accountability and ensure that students feel wanted and supported.  To build a successful community or team, there needs to be a sense of trust, mutual respect and (hopefully) a strong interest in the subject matter and assignments.

Of course, having teams means that there can be problems with those teams!  In my own classes, I would like to set up one big project for the team to work on.  I would require them to meet synchronously regularly, because I have read in the discussions and the articles that much can be lost (including tone, body language and smiles!) when students interact with each other only asynchronously.

I understand that this class included teams with specific roles in order to emulate the process of putting together a real class, with the faculty, instructional designer, graphic designer, programmer, and help desk.  I have found that teams with specific roles work better if each participant is capable of and willing to handle their specific role. 

From my experience with online teams, I have appreciated when teachers stepped in when communication between team members was unsuccessful.  Sometimes there are issues that cannot be solved by peers.