In its role supporting participant interaction, students’ use of social media
technology enhanced their intra-group communications in a more timely fashion
than in the absence of social media technology. Social media technology made
team members available to each other and communications across the group
transparent. This increased availability and transparency addressed two problems
that have been found to negatively impact a team’s performance: managing team
member expectations and the facilitating the logistics of coordinating activities
(Towns, et al., 2000). The ubiquitous communication environment that social
media technology facilitates helped to reduce uncertainty around team members
fulfilling commitments made to the group, whether for attending prearranged
meetings or delivering assigned parts of the work product.