Telecollaboration

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

GERM/LING 546 Telecollaboration: From Theory to Practice Telecollaboration involves Internet-mediated exchange between geographically distant parties of different national/cultural backgrounds for the purposes of language and cultural learning. An additional distinguishing feature of telecollaboration is the opportunity for learners to develop “online literacies” that emphasize cooperation, participation, and reciprocity. The rise of telecollaboration thus marks a shift towards new approaches and contexts for language and intercultural learning, requiring a critical examination of its place in the foreign language curriculum. In this graduate-level seminar, we will investigate the theoretical underpinnings of telecollaboration, considering ways in which telecollaborative praxis is based on and emerges from an understanding of second language acquisition processes. We will examine various models of telecollaboration and how they differentially facilitate languacultural development. At the same time, and in recognition of the challenges common to telecollaboration, we will evaluate strategies for mitigating potential problem areas. The ultimate goal is to prepare course participants to plan and conduct telecollaborative exchanges that are linked to a specific curricular context and that result in measurable learning outcomes.