Using a Variety of Technologies to Create and Maintain a Long-Distance Materials Development Team

Abstract

Over a two year period, a group of editors and authors used a variety of technologies to create a cohesive team that produced a textbook series with instructor manuals along with a supporting web site. Small groups can be analyzed in terms of their (a) situation, (b) leadership, (c) individual vs. group goals, (d) norms, (e) roles, and (f) cohesiveness. The development of the group for this materials publication project is described in terms of these six areas and the ways in which communication technologies were used to facilitate achieving the group's goals.