Does technology-mediated learning matter for effective teams?

Many research and studies have discussed the impor- tance of understanding and measuring the effectiveness of tech- nology-mediated learning initiatives. Most of the research analyses the effectiveness of such initiatives at the individual level (Slatin, 1990; Leidner and Jarvenpaa, 1993). This research aims to provide insights on the effectiveness of technology- mediated learning (TML)2 when working in teams. In particular, we intend to investigate whether the usage of “new technolo- gies” might have a beneficial impact on the activities of univer- sity students when organized as a team. The “new technologies” considered in the study belong to the following list: blog, e- learning platform, online encyclopaedia, e-mail, online word processing/spreadsheet/presentation software (e.g. Google Docs), smartphone, tablet, gaming console, Internet-connected TV, chat and/or VoIP, Wiki, social network and web host- ing/syncing services (e.g. Dropbox). The first results of this re- search confirm our expectations. Technology allows teams of students to significantly improve their performances on all the dimensions considered.