Learning proverbs through telecollaboration with Japanese ...
Telecollaboration : Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs...with the higher level of L2. L2 doesn't...
Transcript of Telecollaboration : Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs...with the higher level of L2. L2 doesn't...
Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and
Triumphs Catherine Clements, CLA Language Center, and
Ginny Steinhagen, German, Scandinavian, and Dutch Department
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
What is “telecollaboration”?
Also called class-to-class exchanges, conversation partners, pen pals, key pals …
Conversation partners in different countries who are learning each other’s native languages
Exchanges done as part of coursework in a language class
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Long before the exchanges
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Start Early
Start early. Really early. 1 semester ahead of time ideally Work your contacts to find complementary classes
Instructors you know in other counties
Resources at your university (TandemPlus)
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Equal second-language level
Make sure students in both countries have the same level of second-language skills, when possible. Classes don't have to be at same level of L2, but the closer
they are, the more equal the exchange will be. If not, conversation will tend to be dominated by the Ss
with the higher level of L2. L2 doesn't matter as much as age. Try not to pair university
students with high school classes; pair with university-age peers.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Equal pay for equal work
Make sure both groups are doing the exchanges for the same reason
Either all voluntary or all for extra credit or all for a grade
If this can't happen, get the next best thing Sometimes European students In honors programs will be
super motivated, or these planning to come to the USA later — consider them as matches.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Embrace diversity
Embrace (schedule) diversity, especially with Europe Work toward 3-7 well-supported exchanges, not 15 hurried
exchanges You don’t want or need to do exchanges all semester
anyway
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Write exchanges into the syllabus
When school has been found and partnership established, write exchanges into syllabus, and present them as mandatory. Failure (to comply) is not an option. Emphasize that students who drop out will get a bad grade,
AND are letting down their partners. Conversely, point out that a good collaboration will open
doors across the world.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Shortly before the exchanges
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Pairing students
Consider multiple types of partnerships Instead of 1-on-1, try 2 on 2. Or whatever works for #s of students in both classes.
Leave options if a partner doesn’t show up, for whatever reason
Also consider pairing based on students’ availability
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Leave details to the students…
Let students figure out the technical details How and when to meet, what platform (Skype, Google
Hangout, etc)
They should meet outside of class, especially in exchanges with countries with a big time difference. If students aren’t linguistically able to do this, provide
model emails for negotiating details
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
… but you provide content
Instructors provide the content of what to talk about. Provide topics, themes, and beaucoup scaffolding Give lists of questions, especially at first. Tandem has materials in French/German/Spanish/English
Tie content in with themes from your textbook, or larger themes Telecollaboration makes it possible to ditch your textbook
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Work toward synchronicity
Work toward synchronous exchanges, but consider starting with asynchronous exchanges, especially in low-level classes. Synchronous exchanges are challenging Start with self-introduction -- Flipgrid or VoiceThread
(asynchronous), work towards real-time meetings (Skype, Google Hangout)
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
During/After the exchanges
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Don’t assess everything
Make sure exchanges get done — ask questions it's hard to lie about; insist on details You don't have to listen to 50 recordings!
Have students report what they learned. It should be obvious if they did not actually do the exchanges.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Follow the AIR model
Follow Colleen Coffey’s AIR model Activation, Interaction, Reflection
When exchanges are done, use them as a springboard for further reflection and discussion amongst the class What did you learn? How did it compare to what you thought you’d learn, or
what you’d learned in the textbook? How was your classmates’ experience similar/different to
yours?
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Stay in touch with partner instructor
Talk often. Communicate.
Let them know ASAP about deadbeat students (and success stories)
Success hinges on your relationship with the other teacher!
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Stay with it
The exchanges improve every semester The 1st semester can be challenging
Keep with it and prepare for great stories from your students
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Colleen Coffey’s template:
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Arsena Ianeva-‐Lockney’s template
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Clements, C. & Steinhagen, G. (2014, February 11). "Telecollaboration: Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs." CARLA Presentation made at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.