Technological Tools: Google Email, Canvas Group Discussions

Group Dynamics
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Group Dynamics
The success of a group project largely depends on its social organization structure especially regarding decision making and understanding of the members’ core competencies and weaknesses. CITATION Kur51 \l 1033 (Lewin, 1951), described group dynamics as the way groups and individuals act and react to changing circumstances. Intragroup and intergroup dynamics that largely depend on the relationship between its members and the scale of project they are tasked to achieve. Over the recent past, technology has modernized interaction, cooperation and contribution parameters involved in group dynamics. Due to technological advancements, group dynamics have taken a new dimension, and members lifted almost all physical restrictions required in traditional group work. Technological tools have been developed that enable a group to work closely to accomplish specific tasks transcending geographical barriers. This article is going to discuss some technological tools as used by groups on a group project.
Google docs are an online version of Microsoft Office Word software but allow multiple access and are easily shareable across the Internet. It features important elements like auto-save and multiple access. The documents are accessible from various devices and enable each member to see the progress and contribution of his/her colleague members on the document. Google docs are accessible from browsers and are supported by a wide range of computing platforms thus making it indispensable in creating and managing an online group. Group members can co-author a common document and voice their opinions online. Feedback is relayed instantly and allows the group members to communicate in real time thus saving on time. Google offers a lot of cloud storage for the google doc files thus saving the group on costs related to storage.
Emails have revolutionized the way group members communicate and share ideas and resources necessary for their project. There are many email service providers and offer a wide range of features for their subscribers. The group has to settle on the service provider most convenient to them and use their email services to communicate, share ideas and resources. Most organizations also provide email services to its employees and stakeholders thus improving their efficacy and service delivery. Emails bridge the physical distance barrier to the group members. It also serves as official communications to each group member especially from the leaderCITATION Joh08 \l 1033 (Cragan, Wright, & Kasch, 2008). In a nutshell, it is an inexpensive way to communicate and share information necessary to the completion of a project.
Canvas group discussions also offer great features to educational groups. They feature important features like threaded discussions, podcast feeds, grading options, and privileged user access. These group discussions offer supplementary learning environment to students and allow them to share information. Only members added to the group can access the content discussed in the group thus enabling a ...