Language Learner Engagement in Telecollaboration Environments

This chapter explores student engagement during telecollaboration processes as well as fundamental aspects to foster its development. In order to tackle this aim, a theoretical discussion about student engagement in technology-mediated learning processes, and particularly, telecollaboration environments is presented together with a practical case study exploring this construct. Three different types of student´s engagement (emotional, cognitive, and behavioral) are considered in a telecollaboration project between a Spanish and a North American university in which 32 students participated over four months. In addition, with regard to the analysis of students' engagement in telecollaboration projects aiming for language development, different approaches and theories are presented in order to shed light on the analysis of this construct during online virtual exchanges. Aspects such as student use of technology, engagement scales, and surveys and an analysis of the interaction are considered. Finally, further research lines regarding telecollaboration and engagement are suggested.