Online communications can be described as being either synchronous or asynchronous. Synchronous communications occur at the same time, for example instant messaging over Gtalk or Windows Messenger. Asynchronous on the other hand refers to communications that occur independently of one another, for example email. Most of us are very familiar with both synchronous and asynchrous forms of communication, but even those of us that are extremely experienced online communicators can sometimes misinterpret the text being sent to us by our peers. Good communication is the key to good group work, and taking into account the following factors can lead to better online communication.

Issues Associated with Online Communication

Meaning and Context

Communication is described as being dynamic, because the meaning of words and the context in which they are used can change the meaning of the message^[1]. Take for example the context in which the following SMS (short message sent via mobile phone) was sent, “Story? X”. This message should be interpreted correctly by the intended recipient; however an individual unfamiliar with the slang terminology and abbreviation used would be unsuccessful in attempting to decipher this message. Being aware that words can be interpreted differently can help towards better communication with your project group online. Also, take into consideration how experienced your group members are communicating online, some may be more familiar with abbreviations etc., than others.

Non-Verbal Cues

During face to face communication we often rely on non-verbal components of messages, these are called metamessages and consist of tone of voice, body language, touch and personal space (how close or far way from us someone is). Although online communication is often reduced to electronic text, conversations online have been found to adhere to the principles of metamessages^[2]. Methods have developed to compensate for the loss of nonverbal cues^[3], for example the use of graphic accents (also known as emoticons) or font formatting (capital letters, etc.). Take for example the following example of an instant message "Hi! How are YOU!? :)" here the author uses an emoticon to convey a smile and bold letters to convey tone of voice.

Benefits of Online Communication

• Trust between group members is important for effective group work. Temporary online workgroups are known to develop something called "swift trust"^[4]. When members of a group have to work quickly to finish a project and don't have the time to develop trust gradually, they act as if trust is present from the start.
• The Internet is described as being very effective for group work because it allows for the efficient flow of information and facilitates the development of ideas^[5].
• Using the Internet to communicate with your project group means that you can overcome time and space dependencies. Organising a time and a place for meetings that suits all members can be very difficult, the Internet can help alleviate this.
• Minutes of meetings are automatically created as you type, and can be saved to be referenced during the course of the project.

Links to Further Reading

How is Online Communciation Different?

Netiquette - the Do's and Don'ts of Online Communication