Designing a multi-cultural, multi-purpose video

conferencing learning programme

Libor Štěpánek, Alena Hradilová, Hana Katrňáková, John Morgan,

Janice de Haaff, Jo Eastlake

Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic& University of Wales Aberystwyth

Outline

• Background to Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic) use of VC

• INVITE project (http://invite.lingua.muni.cz)Leonardo da Vinci Programme

• Course typology

• multi-cultural, multi-purpose video conferencing learning programme common features/aims different purposes/characteristics/aims

• the INVITE teaching material

Background

• 2003 - 2004 Preparatory communication phase

(MU + UWA + Universitat Jaume I Castellón)

• 2004 - 2005 Research project “E-learning and multimedia learning” at MU

• 2005 - 2006 Pilot VC CJV MU + LLC UWA course

• 2006 - 2007 “Boom” of diverse VC learning activities at MU

CJV MU becoming the promoter of the European INVITE project (http://invite.lingua.muni.cz), Leonardo da Vinci Programme

• Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic)

is the promoter of the European INVITE project (http://invite.lingua.muni.cz), Leonardo da Vinci Programme

• AIMS:

to facilitate programmes of cooperation between learning groups from different professional and educational environments, cultures and disciplines with multi-purpose teaching objectives

to create a teaching material that covers key videoconferencing skills, namely organizational and technical skills, functional language and cultural competencies.

Course typology

• Lectures (traditional ones)

• “Advanced Communication Course”

• “English Multi-cultural Course”

• “Experimental Course”

• “VC Research Programme”

• Blog examples:• http://mu-uwa-secondterm.blogspot.com/• http://croesotouwameltingpot.blogspot.com/• http://sgczech.blogspot.com/2007/03/debate-task-3.html• http://invite.lingua.muni.cz

Common features/aims

• ORGANISATION Involving the students in real-life academic and professional situations 90-minute videoconferences Maximum of 12-15 students on each side Combination of synchronic and anachronic student communication

• ACADEMIC SKILLS Individual research Teamwork

• ICT SKILLS Video conferencing skills Web (creating web-pages, blogging)

• LANGUAGE SKILLS English as a second language Speaking and listening skills - (turn taking, politeness, clarification,

rephrasing, negotiation, understanding foreign accents) Writing skills

Different features/aims

• ORGANISATION Technical support Course aims and length

• ACADEMIC SKILLS Teamwork within or across universities

• ICT SKILLS Different VC facilities Web creation as a part of the course x use

of ready made web

• LANGUAGE SKILLS Speaking skills - just one part of their English course x their only English

course Presentations skills x VC skills

• EVALUATION Part of exam x credits x continuous assessment

INVITE module course book

(II) ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS

(IV) TECHNICAL SKILLS

(III) SOCIAL/CULTURAL SKILLS

(I) LANGUAGE SKILLS

VIDEOCONFERENCING

(I) LANGUAGE SKILLS e.g. turn taking, interrupting, presentation skills, questions, reported speech...

(II) ORGANISATIONAL SKILLS e.g. facilitator, coordinator, time organisation, session plans...

(III) SOCIAL/CULTURAL SKILLS e.g. politeness, differences in accents, body language, team work...

(IV) TECHNICAL SKILLS e.g. speaking to the mic, the camera, controlling background noises, clothes, speaking up, ...