Seeing eye to eye: An evaluation of the use of video-conferencing to support collaboration

Student mobility and trans-national collaborative modes of learning at Univ ersity level have been strongly promoted within Europe. However, such initi atives are expensive, difficult to organise and do not always attain their objectives. Recently there has been considerable interest in the extent to which computer-mediated communication between students in different countri es can either supplement or substitute for actual student mobility. This pa per reports an evaluation of a project in which video-conferencing was intr oduced in the context of an established Anglo-Spanish programme in which UK and Spanish Fashion students undertake collaborative projects in each othe rs' countries. Project aims included fostering and supporting second langua ge use, providing an innovative context for collaborative art and design pr ojects and offering an opportunity to simulate trans-national working condi tions. Questionnaires, observation and interview data indicate that not all these objectives were realised, though student reaction to the technology and to the benefits it afforded for collaboration were broadly positive. Th e strengths and weaknesses of video-conferencing as a support to collaborat ive learning in this context are discussed.