EVALUATING VIRTUAL COLLABORATION AND SUPPORT METHODS OVER TIME – A PILOT FIELD STUDY

This pilot field study investigated the evaluation of virtual collaboration and of support methods over time. We specifically asked 32 undergraduates studying pedagogy with a survey questionnaire to evaluate nine virtual collaborative phases of a seminar about “Attachment Theory” in terms of collaboration on a task level (goal orientation, task completion) and social level (cohesion, taking responsibility) and of support methods (design of group work, providing feedback) at three points of measurement. Results indicate a specific evaluation pattern which stayed almost stable over time. Taking responsibility was evaluated lowest indicating that there may be problems in this dimension in virtual learning environments due to the missing social presence. Over time, there were no great changes in evaluation. Overall, this study shows that the social dimensions of virtual collaboration are more problematic than the two dimensions on a task level.