Introduction: Europe’s particularities The Internet and a ‘trans-cultural competence’

1. Introduction: Europe’s particularities The Internet and a ‘trans-cultural competence’ Investigation Discussion Conclusion Teaching across European borders: Cultural and social aspects of learning via the Internet – a German point of view Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

2. Introduction Europe’s particularities Society: 45 languages (11 official) Internet: 33,39 million people online (10%) Business: secondary effects from the liberalization of the telecommunication sector Education: Connecting institutions of all levels (1998 Netd@ys: 35,000 organizations) Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

3. Introduction Europe’s particularities Source. Databank Consulting 1997 Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

4. European Integration as a trans-national process. • Cultural pluralism and variety as specific topics of this process (national and regional cultures). • TC as a consciousness of communicative openness to other cultures. The Internet and a trans-cultural competence Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

5. The Internet and a trans-cultural competence GTC-Model for teaching across European borders: Social competence - contact competence - communicative flexibility - sensitivity European Identity Psychical constitution - self-assurance - treatment of stress - emotional stability Disposition of attitudes - cognition - affection - comportment Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

6. Investigation Types of Internet-based learning environments Type 1: Training Model Method: Action - based training Type 2: Consensus Model Method: Problem - oriented education Type 3: Knowledge Model Method: Knowledge - based education Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

7. Investigation Learning environments Type 1:Cross - cultural Explorations and Dialogue (CCED)http://www.ibs.ee/babel Type 2:Distance Education Methods in Teacher Education and Research (DEMETER)http://hugin.hsh.no/project/demeter/index.htm Type 3:Hamburg-Lüneburg-Bochum (HALÜBO)http://www.erzwiss.uni-hamburg.de/Inst02/virtsem.htm Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

8. Investigation Objectives • O I: Effects of variation in the educational setting of Internet-based learning environments. • O 2: Identification of typical personality characteristics in these learning environments. • O 3: General construction conditions of Internet- based learning environments. Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

9. Investigation Objective 2: Identification of typical personality characteristics Social competence Dimension of sensitivity (3 sub-dimensions) Dimension of contact competence (3 sub-dimensions) Dimension of communicative flexibility (3 sub-dimension) Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

10. Investigation Sociability dimension Contact competence: SD I: „can contact other persons“ SD II: „has intercultural contacts“ SD III: „is not afraid of other cultures“ Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

11. Discussion Investigation Developing a consciousness of openness Construction of a trans-national community Trans-cultural competence Process of „community-construction“ („Vergemeinschaftung“) Process of Internet -based learning Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

12. Conclusion Aspects of teaching across European borders Society: Maintain of the national and regional variety (European policy). Business: Need for technical and cultural standardization. Education: Privatization and mix of on- and off campus education Internet: Paradigm of communication in learning environments Peter J. Weber (University of Hamburg)

13. Teaching across European borders: Cultural and social aspects of learning via the Internet – a German point of view Dr. Peter J. Weber University of Hamburg Institute for International and Comparative Education Sedanstr. 19 20146 Hamburg Tel.: +49 40 428 38 3711 / 3712 Fax: +49 40 428 38 6247 weber@erzwiss.uni-hamburg.de http://www.erzwiss.uni-hamburg.de/Inst02/index02.htm