A casual model for using collaborative technologies to facilitate student team projects
Colleges of business are particularly known for using team projects as a means of enhancing student learning. Though students may assemble in one location for traditional, classroom-based learning, time and distance may create challenges as students attempt to fulfill requirements associated with team projects. This study explores the use of collaborative technologies found in common course management systems (e.g. Blackboard(C) and WebCT(C)) and community sites (e.g. MSN Communities(C)) as a means to address logistic and material organizational problems associated with team projects in colleges of business. Specifically, this study uses qualitative inquiry of team stakeholders to compare perceptions of the use of collaborative technologies from both a user and non-user perspective. Through this process, a causal model was developed to identify potential net benefits from the use of collaborative technologies, as well as antecedents to the outcomes in order to facilitate current understanding, as well as future research.
collaborative technologies team projects net benefits quality use