Team collaboration in virtual worlds

Abstract

Are virtual worlds more or less effective for virtual team collaboration? We suggest that the answer to this question is complicated and dependent upon a number of factors, and we propose a research agenda with theoretical bases to guide researchers in the area of virtual team collaboration for the next seven to ten years. While virtual teams are increasingly used by organizations, there has been little systematic research done to understand how collaboration in virtual worlds compares to collaboration supported by other media, or how characteristics of virtual teams influence the collaboration process and outcomes. The research agenda that we propose looks at basic differences between virtual worlds and other media, but also includes consideration of the specific contextual factors, and the influence that leadership might have on the collaboration process and outcomes.

Providing a Multi-fold Assessment Framework to Virtualized Collaborative Learning in Support for Engineering Education

“…As mentioned, the answers were given on the 5-point Likert scale, so that students could state their level of agreement or disagreement. The rating scale ranged from "Strongly disagree" (1), "Disagree" (2), "Neither agree nor disagree" (3) to "Agree" (4), "Strongly agree" (5).…”

“…In addition, virtualization can have significant impact on the efficacy of collaborative learning [5]. In particular, it has the potential to allow for aspects such as cultural cohesion to be fostered through the methods in which virtual worlds can facilitate embodiment whilst preserving anonymity [6].…”

“…In this paper, we identify the unique challenges associated with using learning objects across advanced technological platforms and within pedagogic frameworks that reflect on the strengths of these technologies to virtualize live sessions of collaborative learning while enhancing complex aspects, such as cognitive and social assessment [5]. To this end, collaboration and complexity are key aspects firmly considered as extension from the traditional learning objects to exploit the notion of Collaborative Complex Learning Objects integrated into the new technological concept of Collaborative Complex Learning Resource (CC-LR) [16].…”

Sparking Creativity: Improving Electronic Brainstorming with Individual Cognitive Priming

“…third, our study used words to induce priming, but there are many other techniques, such as pictures or music, that could be imbedded into an information system. For example, organizations have started to use three-dimensional (3D) virtual environments, such as Second life or Openwonderland, to foster collaboration among virtual groups [39,41]. In addition to the visually pleasing virtual space, many of these environments offer EBS tools.…”

“…Research on the efficiency and effectiveness of virtual group interactions has become an important component of the study of collaboration [24,39]. Improving creativity and idea generation is also important to organizations [20,36,44].…”