Telecollaboration 2.0: Using Facebook for Intercultural Exchange
Abstract: This paper will discuss the use of Facebook for intercultural learning in a telecollaborative project linking classes in Japan and classes overseas. There is a good amount of literature already existing in the field of online intercultural exchange and telecollaboration. However, the use of Facebook in such intercultural exchange is still new and there is a dearth of literature on the subject. The paper outlines the learning design of the telecollaborative class, suggesting in-class activities using such technologies as video mail, Facebook, Google documents, and VoiceThread. The objective of these telecollaborative classes was to foster intercultural competencies and to acquire skills to effectively utilize digital technologies, especially Web 2.0 technologies, for international communication. The paper will report quantitative and qualitative data obtained from student participants and discuss the challenges such telecollaborative projects will typically face.
Presider: Jason Crittenden, Mississippi State University