In massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs), teamwork and collaboration is essential in order to progress in the game. Children with autism have a difficult time understanding social cues on how to cooperatively work with others. MMOGs allow each player to specifically focus on a single task that can help influence the tide of battle. By contributing each player’s ability to perform a task, the children are able to repeatedly apply and understand the concept of teamwork. In “Learning Outcomes and Processes in Massively Multiplayer Online Games: Exploring the Perceptions of Players,” Iro Voulgari, Vassilis Komis, and Demetrios G. Sampson analyzes the impact of how massively multiplayer online games (MMOGs) have cognitive, social, and affective aspects of a technology-supported learning environment. Additionally, their study includes the players’ perceptions on the learning impact of MMOGs and how there is an ability to transfer the skills learned to other environments. They claim that through “shared goals, individual responsibility, as well as, the interdependence of the goal...
The first point that needs to be addressed is how video games are used for training purposes. Video games are used by the United States Army to train soldiers (Suellentrop). America’s Army helps the soldiers develop their fighting skills (Suellentrop). This video game also helps to teach soldiers how to learn to function as a team (Suellentrop). Along with the Army, video games train individuals how to respond in emergency situations (Issitt). Video games train people in many ways, even if it is unknown to many people how important they can be to society.
Chosen by the UNSW Australian Business School and designed by Harvard Business School and Forio Business Simulations, the interactive virtual game called Everest challenges each player with their assigned roles to undertake and confront specific challenges that occurred in the process of reaching the summit of Mount Everest as a team. By encapsulating the importance of collective teamwork and effective communication in order to achieve group and personal goals, the simulation facilitates a realistic experience of an environment with other team members, causing us to reflect upon methods and barriers towards communication as well as the disinhibition effect experienced by virtual teams. The development of our formal group, ‘Team Summit’ and group processes, in particular conflict management provide us with virtual examples of key issues experienced by managers within organisations to strive for success. Though team leaders were formally assigned prior to both simulations, essentially shared leadership that involved all group members proved to increase cohesion levels and minimize intragroup conflict contributing to consistent and successful results of both simulations.
Team Dynamics is how a group of two or more that works together for a common goal. One definition of a team is: two or more individuals associated in some joint action. (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1976). In the business & education world, these joint actions should have some mission or objective that achieves results like a research paper. My Team C has come together with a common goal: Writing a successful paper for week 5 on “What safeguards exist currently to ensure academic honesty & are they working?” For this to be possible we must learn how to work as a team.
Although video game interaction is boundless, gaming can't be referred to as the new way of socializing because it revolves around on the game itself. In the video game community, a player is assumed to have a neutral identity. Even though social interactions are present in MMORPG's, these interactions are not about the individual's traits, emotions, memories, or other personal characteristics; it is all about the game and the environment that surrounds it.
A virtual team is a group of people working interdependently via various types of electronic media across organizational and geographical boundaries for a shared purpose (D’Souza & Colarelli, 2010). Research indicates virtual teams are becoming increasingly popular in organizations across the United States and the world (D’Souza & Colarelli, 2010; Rusman, van Bruggen, Sloep, & Koper, 2010). These teams vary in size, degree of geographic dispersion, prior shared work experience, nature of assignment, and expectations of a common future (Rusman et al., 2010). Although virtual teams have potential advantages like the removal of physical boundaries, the ability to form new partnerships, and optimization of competencies (Chinowsky & Rojas, 2003), they also introduce many challenges that may not be as prevalent in traditional teams.
There are many different benefits to having diverse dynamics within a team. Communication seems to be the key to making the dynamics of a team work. A team is very much an interpersonal relationship with many potential benefits as well as pitfalls. The dynamics can often cause conflict within that team which can negatively affect the team's performance. It is common for people on a team to try to ignore or bury problems due to a desire to not create a scene. This can be very destructive because the issues do not get resolved. There are some specific steps that can be taken to resolve that conflict. When it comes to resolving an issue, the methods of doing so can be as dynamic as the team itself.
Presently, video games aren’t merely toys that negatively influence the youth. They have become an alternative means for people to learn and train for work. Games teach values and essential information, and motivate its players to achieve goals. Soldiers and doctors benefit from video games as well. The collaboration of game developers and educators helps improve the quality of educational games. At present, as technology progresses, one can truly see that video games have become an important factor in learning.
Video games are commonly known as games that you play for fun or as a hobby, but what if this fun could turn into your profession. Most video games started out as arcade games played to reach the highest score. People played with a "fistful of quarters" each day to try and reach the top of the score board. A prime example of someone who is well known on the high score board is Billy Mitchell. In the documentary, King of Kong: A fistful of quarters, Billy stated,
Speaking from personal experience, removing my younger brother from a video game in a hurry is something that is impossible to do. The attachment between him and the screen attains a level of immortality; the screen becomes an emotional retreat and their minds become trapped for hours to the exclusion of the surroundings around them. It is quite bewildering to think that the world has come to this; kids as young as 10 years old neglect chores, studies, social relationships, and even themselves as they are blinded by the mind-altering media applications around them. The debate on whether online communication is hampering or...
The experience of game play can be described as an activity in which the player is virtually embodied in the game world. Anyone who has experienced the world of gaming knows how the engaging experience can manifest itself with “sweaty palms and chills down the spine” (http://www.eludamos.org/index.php/eludamos/article/viewArticle/80/147) when coming face-to-face with alien creatures; or with the adrenaline rush we get when racing a high speed automobile head-to-head with a friend. Gaming is an excellent source of entertainment. It provides an opportunity for social growth, provides a meaningful form of exploring expression, and provides heightened sensitivity.
Schrader, P., and Michael McCreery. "The Acquisition Of Skill And Expertise In Massively Multiplayer Online Games." Educational Technology Research & Development 56.5/6 (2008): 557-574. Academic Search Complete. Web. 16 Nov. 2013.
Realizing that a group can become a high performance team is important. Accomplishing this goal is invaluable, advantageous and profitable. Once able to operate from a group to the high performing team is a great step into preparation into the big business world. Leaders and members must also realize not only how to accomplish this but that some problems will and can arise from different demographic characteristics and cultural diversity. That is if one is in such a group, which the probability would be quite high.
In today’s workplace teamwork is an essential part of success. We have more and more business that are incorporating teamwork in some type of way. They are effectively implementing ways on how to create effective teams, teamwork and team building. They are also creating a work culture that values collaboration. Teamwork, is about people working together and working towards reaching their common goal.
Teamwork is defined as, “the process of working collaboratively with a group of people in order to achieve a goal.” (Business Dictionary, n.d.) Ultimately, it provides us with a sense of accomplishment and a feeling of unity amongst each other. It allows us to create healthy relationships, and bond further with our peers, and generally, it’s a necessity for our lives. Teamwork aids us with developing imperative life lessons and skills. It also helps us gain a new perspective, and discover our strengths and weaknesses. Personally, I believe that I work well in a team, and I possess the skills of a good leader. Regardless, some individuals
The advantage of playing online games is that it allows people to communicate with numerous numbers of others from different cultural backgrounds and countries. In the game, a gamer may want to exchange his item with someone else. Therefore, he/she has to negotiate with others. Repetition of this negotiation can develop a gamer’s social skills. The disadvantage of online gaming is that spending most of your free time in front of a monitor will remove teenagers from their friends and society.