blended learning

This is an updated, edited version of the conference paper presented in 2008.

The paper outlines the practices of teaching digital literature at the University of Siegen in Germany where Peter Gendolla and Joergen Schaefer taught courses on literature in computer-based media for students of both Literary and Media Studies. This paper thus provides an historical synopsis of the didactical transformations the teaching practices have undergone as well as an overview of the University’s profile and its focus on research and teaching literary studies. In 2007, the classroom moved online and held a class transatlantically in cooperation with Roberto Simanowski (Brown University/Providence, RI, USA). The online course approached an experimental Blended Learning concept. The paper introduces the methodological concept of the class “Digital Aesthetics” and discusses using Online Communication Systems in the context of the course of studies: Net Literature.

Source: Author's Abstract

My major investigation in my master’s thesis was based on a class held at theUniversity of Siegen in 2007: “Digital Literature and Arts II.” In this course Iserved as academic assistant and developed a teaching model that is nowapplicable in Blended Learning Environments. While in my bachelor thesis I wasinterested in the design of online learning environments, my main focus in thecompletion of the master’s was on the student’s course performance: Myobjective was to find methods to analyze the students learning activity. Therefore,I analyzed the teaching and learning interaction based on theories I derived fromstudies on Computer Supported Collaborative Work (CSCW) and ComputerSupported Collaborative Learning (CSCL).

This paper outlines the practices of teaching digital literature at the University of Siegen in Germany where Peter Gendolla and Joergen Schaefer taught courses on literature in computer-based media for students of both Literary and Media Studies. This paper thus provides an historical synopsis of the didactical transformations the teaching practices have undergone as well as an overview of the University’s profile and its focus on research and teaching literary studies. In 2007, the classroom moved online and held a class transatlantically in cooperation with Roberto Simanowski (Brown University/Providence, RI, USA). The online course approached an experimental Blended Learning concept. The paper introduces the methodological concept of the class “Digital Aesthetics” and discusses using Online Communication Systems in the context of the course of studies: Net Literature.