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Web 2.0 and Academic Exchange

Amerika Haus
Vienna, October 13, 2009

Transatlantic Dialogues ("American/Cultural Studies as a Transnational Project")

Every year a large number of U.S. students travel abroad as part of so-called stand-alone Study Abroad programs with the intention to study foreign cultures. However, many of them bring their own faculty and have limited contact with local students and teachers. This way both sides miss out on opportunities to learn from each other and to have truly cross-cultural experiences. Aware of this shortcoming, the U.S. Embassy Vienna's Public Affairs Section hosted a workshop for twenty U.S. and Austrian exchange practitioners at the Amerika Haus on October 13. Klaus Heissenberger, faculty member from the American Studies Department of Vienna University, and Timothy Conley, former Fulbright Visiting Professor from Bradley University, introduced the Vienna/Bradley exchange model. This model involves e-learning elements such as the use of Web 2.0, Edumoodle, Geocaching, and online maps. Astrid Fellner, Professor of American Studies at the University of Saarland, Saarbrücken, Germany, joined the discussion via web conferencing.


Prof. Astrid Fellner, University of Saarland (on the screen) in conversation with the workshop participants.	Mag. Klaus Heissenberger, Vienna University (front left) moderating the web conference.