Once a group has established cohesion, task communication skills keep the group moving forward.
With a group sense of cohesion, task communication skills are what keep the group moving towards completing required projects. Through utilizing shared documents and group discussions, asynchronous task talk (e.g., comments in a collaborative document) can lead to group productivity just as it can during discussion within a face-to-face class session.
Don't make the mistake of jumping right into working on the assigned group task! The number one things that increases group productivity is organizational talk about how the group will go about doing the task. Will the group use a scheduling tool like Doodle to try to find time when all, most, or some of the group could meet via Zoom? Will the group assign different parts of the task to individual members of the group? Will members pair up to assist each other to complete parts of the assignment?
Agendas are appropriate for any collaborative work. Using Canvas Collaborations to constructing a shared document is a way for a group to use an agenda when working synchronously or asynchronously. A formal agenda can be used for a synchronous meeting, or the group can make a to-do list for asynchronous collaboration and assign tasks to members. Members can update what they have accomplished on the list, add to a collaborative document or post in a Questions and Answers discussion asynchronously. If meeting synchronously, member updates can also be shared during discussion at the next group meeting.
To determine who is doing what on the project or assignment, it is important to start with a group discussion about member strengths and best fit for group roles. For example, a member who keeps very organized notes but is often 5-minutes late might be a strong document manager for the group, but not as strong a fit as group coordinator. Likewise, someone who is great at web and library searches, but struggles when navigating Canvas could be a great Resource Expert finding sources for the group, but not as strong in a Document Manager role who needs to create, share and edit collaborative documents within Canvas.
This is a group discussion, so group members can propose, accept and adjust group roles, and what is expected of each group member, based on the strengths and assets present among the group members.
Groups can collaborate both synchronously, together at the same time, AND asynchronously, from different places at different times, depending on what works best for the group members, at any given point in a project. When time allows for synchronous collaboration, an agenda to guide a meeting in person or on zoom can heighten group productivity. When a group is unable to make time for synchronous meetings, constructing a shared to-do list or agenda, determining what each member will contribute for the group, and having members keep each other updated on what is being accomplished can be an asynchronous way organize collaboration productively. The shared to-do list or agenda is an important tool to keep the group "on the same page" about progress being made on the assigned project.
Consider the example agendas below and consider what should be included in an Agenda for your group:
QUESTIONS (from all group members) |
ANSWERS |
---|---|
When is it due? | Syllabus due date - 5/2 (Coordinator) |
Assignment Steps & Tasks (To-Do List) |
Group Goal (Date) |
Role (Who) |
---|---|---|
Create collaborative template | Next week (date) | Document manager |
Find articles for group to review | 2-weeks (date) | Resource expert |
Create Zoom meeting to discuss ideas | 3-weeks (date/time) | Group coordinator |
Resource | Location (course link) |
Use |
---|---|---|
Collaborative template | Group Collaborations | Document all case study information |
Current statistics | Group Files | Use for data questions |
Questions and answers | Group Discussions | Add any group questions and answers |
In addition to a shared agenda, the group can use Canvas Collaborations to constructing a shared calendar for the group. On this calendar the group can list all required deadlines in the course, the group can also list any group goals by dates. For instance, if an assignment is due Week #9 in the course, a group goal may be to have individual contributions done by on Tuesday of Week #8, so the group can refine into one cohesive, professional product before submitting the assignment.
A basic calendar should be constructed from the course syllabus. The suggestion is that groups have a planning discussion in which the group can decide how they want to use group goals or deadlines, in addition to those provided by the professor.
In community-based groups, roles can emerge over time as members interact with each other. Once members have roles that everyone in the group understands, this facilities everyone feeling confident in what everyone is doing for the group. In an classroom-based community of learners, roles need to be formed more quickly due to the time limitations within a semester. In a group planning discussion, members should discuss the roles that they think they can perform well to support the group.
Clear roles for all members of a group can facilitate completing course assignments successfully, while distributing the workload across the group, increasing confidence that the group can and will produce quality work through collaboration, and even clarify what communication group members should expect from each other.
A communication plan is essential for productive group collaboration in any format. Groups should have two different plans for how they will communicate. Canvas Groups provides tools for these channels of communication. Group Announcements, Comments @groupmembers in shared documents (via Canvas Collaborations) as well as group Discussions (subscribe to receive notifications) serve as a way to keep the group on the same page with easy, asynchronous communication. Communication tools in Canvas Groups can also be accessed by the instructor, so you can invite them into the communication circle for feedback, suggestions or clarification. The group should also consider a secondary channel that group members can use as "back-up" to reach each other when Canvas communication is not sufficient, such as email address or text. A Communication plan should include both the channels the group will use to stay in touch, AND when members should expects to "hear" from each other. A complete plan would also integrate a group calendar and roles for each group member.
Group Productivity is the end result of group task talk. Integrating the communication plan, the member roles, and the group calendar provides a solid foundation for group productivity. Doing these three elements well can keep a group on the same page throughout the course. To do this requires group commitment to collaboration and planning discussions. Commitment to group productivity will be higher for groups that are concurrently building cohesion through inter-personal connections.
Adding in the shared to-do or agenda element, draws the group's attention to the detail of the specific assignment, The group can also try to accomplish productivity through only implementing their to-do list agenda.
What every group needs to do is PLAN, talk about what their plan should be, make a plan, and stick to that plan. The plan of course can change across time, as long as the group is on the same page about making a change to the plan and is purposeful about making the change.
An additional strategy to use to increase productivity and cohesion is to discuss group reflections on whether or not things are going well. If they are going well, share compliments all around, and if they are not, share suggestions all around.
Without a plan, groupwork can easily devolve into interpersonal challenges and individual work-habit dynamics, which is not effective for collaborative production of group work. Through building a plan, the group can develop an approach to work that fits all group members. Enacting the group plan, enables higher group productivity to complete assignments that demonstrate professional quality and higher levels of individual learning thorough collaborative learning in a cohesive group.
Special thanks to Dr. Heidi Muller, Associate Professor of Communication Studies at UNC, for her contributions from her Asynchronous Groups OER (preview).