Collaboration

Collaboration amongst team members in an online setting, promotes professional growth and development for future use in our global society. One of the most valuable attributes in a perspective employee is the ability to work well with others in diverse situations. In an online context, students must demonstrate proficiency in critical thinking, problem solving, and effective communication when working with other individuals in a group setting. All of the aforementioned items help develop valuable work skills, which are applicable in today's work force.

When students can collaborate effectively with other members of the class, they increase both their knowledge base and work ethic. Students gain an appreciation for collaboration through the simple experience of working on projects and assignments together in both an asynchronous and synchronous context. While taking an online class, some students may find that working in a purely asynchronous environment supports a flexible learning environment, while other students may need  communication that exists in real time. For those particular students, a synchronous learning environment may yield better results.

Despite the approach, when students on a team decide to proceed, the idea that all students have experience and prior knowledge to contribute should be the highlighted philosophy within the group. Students that build trust within the group and work collaboratively to achieve a common goal will produce quality work more effectively than those working solely from an individualist standpoint.