The Harder They Fall: Pitfalls of Online Team Writing Assignments
A user has reported that the URL we had indexed no longer works properly.
This link is offline until a volunteer finds a new, valid URL for the work and updates our site.

Goldrick-Jones, Amanda
STC Region 7 Proceedings
2002

Abstract:

Computer-mediated communication (CMC) has opened up new territories for teaching technical communication. But web-based courses can present steepchallenges for students working on team assignments as well as for teachers designing them. What conditions make it likelier that e-teams will fail? Whatconditions might better prepare instructors and student teams to deal not only with the technical, but also the interpersonal, challenges of learning from eachother in a CMC environment? First providing theoretical frameworks suggested by research into collaborative writing and the effects of CMC on learning andteamwork, I outline some difficulties facing students struggling to complete a technical writing team assignment. I then suggest strategies for instructors andstudents to help ensure that online teamwork is a productive and positive experience.