E-learning and Language and Style in Mainz and Münster

Abstract

This article reports on how online Language and Style was implemented and taught simultaneously and cooperatively at two German universities in the summer semester of 2004, in the English departments of the universities of Mainz (Patricia Plummer) and Münster (Beatrix Busse). In order to compare different learning and teaching styles, one-third of the course was taught in a traditional seminar-style mode while two-thirds consisted of online workshops. The authors cooperated extensively during the project, assessing and evaluating students’ responses and performances both quantitatively and qualitatively. This article focuses on (1) the place of e-learning and stylistics in our departments and in English studies in Germany in general, (2) the challenges that had to be faced prior to the implementation of the course, (3) how we put the course into practice in our teaching environments, (4) our students’ responses to, and performance on, Language and Style and (5) our own experiences in running a web-based course. Finally, we draw some general conclusions about web-based learning and teaching and what we have gained from participating in Mick Short's investigation.