Distance, open and virtual lifelong learning : shaping the transition within a French University. [proceedings, ICDE, Düsseldorf, Germany, 1-5 April, 2001]

International audienceThe distance education centre within the Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3 University has existed for over 25 years. In 2000, the newly designed METICE (“ Multimedia, enseignement, technologies de l'information et de la communication éducatives ” — Multimedia, teaching, educational information and communication technologies) started up its online working environment for distance, open and virtual lifelong learning. Several (parts of) diplomas offered by our University are now operating in an ICT mode and more will be made available in 2002. This paper addresses the processes involved, from technical aspects to pedagogical issues, including various difficulties and psychological barriers concerning the evolution of the traditional role of the university professor towards the trainer, teacher or tutor within an online mediated education environment. Computer-mediated communication (CMC) issues are of particular interest, especially in relation to linguistic and extra-linguistic aspects. Based on corpora gathered during the implementation of a “ virtual campus ”, the author conducted research on the ways in which mediated electronic discourse is shaped through usage of electronic mail and discussion groups, within the online distance, open and virtual learning environment. Following on from previous research [PAN 97-99], it is suggested that the computer has become a tool, a mediator which indirectly modifies our discourse within the CMC framework, thus creating yet other, new discourse “ genres ”