Developing Collaborative Cyber Communities to Prepare Tomorrow's Teachers

Abstract

Abstract: Computer‐mediated exchange and interaction have become topics of debate and discussion in the past several years due to the growing interest in synchronous and asynchronous communication and their role in language acquisition, learning, and teaching (Liu, Moore, Graham, & Lee, 2002). This article offers a model for a collaborative course on Technology in Foreign Language Education (TITLE) that is built around computer‐mediated discussion. The graduate seminar, designed and taught collaboratively at the University of South Carolina and the University of Florida, allows students to experience the benefits and challenges of virtual communication as they engage in discussions about the theoretical and practical interface of pedagogy and technology in language teaching. Course components, such as chat, e‐portfolios, multi‐user object oriented domains (MOOs), an electronic discussion board, and virtual guests are discussed and the outcomes of the seminar are highlighted in terms of student gains.