Teletandem as a complex learning environment: Looking for a model

Abstract

This article presents a model of teletandem, i.e. tandem throughdesktop videoconferencing (Telles 2009). The aim of such a model istwofold: heuristic and pedagogical. It is heuristic because it enablesus to understand teletandem at all its levels and partially to predict (inprobabilistic terms) what can happen in a teletandem environment. It isalso pedagogical because it helps us formulate plans of action to improvefuture use and environment design. To build this model, we have drawnupon complexity theory (Larsen-Freeman & Cameron 2008, Morin 1990),which leads us to distinguish different levels of analysis before discussingthe relationship between the different elements and levels leading to thecomplex fi nal (yet dynamic) model.