Development of Virtual Teams and Learning Communities

Students of an Internet based course in project management worked during a 20 week period in teams of 4-6 persons. The course consisted of Swedish students living in Sweden or abroad which made it impossible for many of the teams to have any face-to-face interaction. During the course the teams were assigned to a series of discussion questions and cases. The study, based on a survey of 287 students who participated in the course, examined their experience of teamwork and showed that many of the classical team development issues also evolve in a virtual team. Furthermore, the study showed that students considered their teamwork was efficient and that being able to communicate, discuss and share experiences was essential for developing a positive learning community