12007

12007

General Session - Conference Presentation and Interactive Activity Only (40 minutes, no formal paper)

Cathy Taylor, Park University, Georgia, USA, cathy.taylor@park.edu Jutta Pegues, Park University, Ohio, USA, jutta.pegues@park.edu Dees Stallings, Park University, Maryland, USA, walton.stallings@park.edu Hank Roehrich, Park University, North Dakota, USA, henry.roehrich@park.edu
 * “Does Anyone Know What We’re Doing?”: Identifying and Solving Communication Problems in Virtual Academic Workgroups**

Communication can be challenging even when participants are in the same room. When co-workers are geographically separated, communication problems can become exacerbated to the point where confusion is the norm. This four person panel presentation will identify and offer solutions to common challenges facing distance academic workgroups. Miscommunications due to lack of face time are broached to include perceived cyber-bullying. Facilitating virtual workgroups in light of differing gender preferences, frequent problems using social media, and miscommunications due to technology will also be explored. Proactive solutions on building a cohesive virtual workgroup will be discussed. Panelists are distance faculty for Park University and have over 50 years of cumulative experience communicating in a diverse range of virtual academic workgroups. Additionally, the panelists are from different states in the U.S. and collaborated on the presentation by distance.

Participants will benefit from the solutions offered as well as the shared experiences of the audience members as interaction will be encouraged. Anyone who is a member of a virtual workgroup or is a member of a department with a distance co-worker would likely benefit from viewing this presentation. Participants can apply knowledge gained by avoiding frequent communication missteps such as perceived cyber-bullying. Understanding the virtual employee’s perspective will help administrators of distance programs and department chairs of distance faculty. Participants can also implement suggestions offered on building a cohesive virtual workgroup. After the session, key points along with references will be posted in the asynchronous discussion area for further comment.

//Interactivity// Panelists will engage the live audience using PowerPoint slides, whiteboard, polling, and the chat board. Participants will be encouraged to share experiences of miscommunication in virtual academic workgroups and offer potential solutions. Audience polls will be conducted concerning gender preferences and cyber bullying. Suggestions on how to build a cohesive work environment in a virtual academic workgroup will be solicited from the audience. A question and answer session will be conducted at the end of the presentation for any follow-up questions for the panelists.

All Audiences social media, virtual workgroup, miscommunication, gender preferences