Implementing an international web-based collaborative environment.

Abstract

This paper reflects on the authors? experience in creating a collaborative web-based learning environment for school students in immersion programmes on three continents. This work was carried out in the context of a longitudinal research project over three years, aimed at investigating the effects on the proficiency of French immersion students in Australia of collaboration via the Internet with their counterparts in France and Canada. The students worked together on the joint production of a bilingual electronic journal in French and English, the French speakers helping the English speakers with their French and vice versa. The paper begins with a brief discussion of collaborative language learning, particularly in relation to the World Wide Web, and an overview of the project and its aims. This is followed by a description of the challenges encountered in the implementation of the learning environment and the ways in which these were addressed. The final part outlines the outcomes identified so far in assisting the participants to exploit this web-based environment for meaningful language learning.