ACIT4075 Introduction to Virtual Teams and Global Engineering Communication Project Management Emneplan

The course offers students an overview of current theory and practice of working in virtual professional teams, particularly in the contexts of technical fields such as engineering, computer science, and other related areas. The course covers principle frameworks, methods, and practical approaches to forming, participating in, and managing virtual teams for professional activity in those fields. Students will conduct and present guided research of best practices in virtual team management.  

This course is designed and run in collaboration with Louisiana Technology University.  

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements. 

Knowledge 

On successful completion of this course the student has: 

• familiarity with main current theories, methods, and techniques for purposes, structures, and problems related to virtual teams, based on current research in professional communication and engineering. 

• knowledge of practical steps and techniques for the formation, participation in, and management of virtual teams in engineering. Such techniques include but are not limited to best practices for forming virtual teams, task setting, conflict resolution, labor distribution within virtual teams, and others. 

• understanding of principles and specific techniques for translating virtual team work into effective professional texts and other types of messages. 

• awareness of communication technologies for visual teamwork and their appropriate application for various projects and tasks. 

Skills 

On successful completion of this course the student can: 

• participate in the work of the virtual team through effective, efficient, and timely contributions to problem-solving, writing, and other related tasks 

• apply knowledge of virtual team work to various stages of a communication project, including but not limited to writing process management, conflict prevention and resolution and technology use 

• effectively participate in virtual team communication-related projects, from beginning of a project to completion 

General competence 

On successful completion of this course the student can: 

• Understand the role and purpose of teamwork in modern engineering and other technical disciplines 

• Understand how the communication skills and competencies required for successful virtual team work in engineering relate to the general communication competencies in technical disciplines. 

The course will include topics that deal with both practicalities of virtual team work and, importantly, the theories, rationales, and conceptual understanding of the roles, purposes, and methodologies of effectively forming, participating in, and utilizing results of engineering virtual team work. 

An important part of the course will be devoted to a critical selection, assessment and use of appropriate communication and other technological solutions necessary for successful virtual team work.  

The course will use current research into virtual teams from the fields of engineering, technical communication, usability studies, and other related disciplines. To familiarize the students with this research, course readings will include recent research articles from academic and professional journals, alongside a course textbook. 

During the 2024-2025 academic year, the course will be offered online (digitally). Given the 7-hour time difference between Oslo and Louisiana, and in line with best teaching practices in communication studies, the instruction to take place asynchronously (in Canvas), with periodic 1-hour long synchronous meetings, in Zoom or Teams.  

In line with best teaching practices from the field of professional communication, the following teaching methods will be used (listed here in order of priority and frequency of use): 

• Active learning and flipped classroom methods 

• Peer review and peer-learning 

• Lectures and presentations by instructor(s) 

The role of the teacher is to be a facilitator and an expert-coordinator of course work, who guides the students through the content of the course 

Students will work in groups throughout the course. The groups will take the project through preliminary steps such as drafting and peer review, and submit the final draft of the text as the final exam. 

This course is run in collaboration with Louisiana Technology University. During the 2024-2025 academic year, the course will be offered online (digitally). The majority of the instruction will take place asynchronously (in Canvas), with periodic 1-hour long synchronous meetings, in Zoom or Teams. 

1. Three written assignments 

1. Weekly reading response and peer-review assignments. A minimum of 75% (9 out of 12)  out of the reading response and peer-review assignments must be approved. 

Detailed description of all assignments will be provided to the students in Canvas. 

The exam will be a ‘capstone’ written report in groups (max 5 students), between 5000 and 6000 words. 

Students will be provided with a detailed description of the task. Both the quality of the final text and each student's contribution to the group effort will be assessed.  

The exam can be appealed. 

New/postponed exam: In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet. 

All members of the group receive the same final grade. Under exceptional circumstances, individual grades can be assigned at the discretion of the Course Coordinator  and Head of Studies.  

All aids are permitted, provided the rules for plagiarism and source referencing are complied with. 

Grading scale A-F, where A denotes the highest and E the lowest pass grade, and F denotes a fail.  

Two internal examiners. External examiner is used when necessary and appropriate. The exam grade can be appealed.