Klaus-Dieter Rossade

Profile

Klaus-Dieter Rossade is a lecturer in Modern Languages at the Open University and currently Head of German in the Department of Languages. He recently chaired the production of a new Level 3 German course that uses innovative blended and social internet based learning strategies to support student' learning and exploring the German language and German speaking cultures. Klaus-Dieter's research focusses on intercultural communication in language learning and web 2.0 based internet use in education.

In 2009 he was involved in the BBC production of the 3-part documentary on Berlin, written and presented by Matt Frei, and directed by Sam Hobkinson.

He started his academic career at University College London and has a background in public radio and television broadcasting in Stuttgart, Germany.

Teaching Interests

I joined the Open University in 1999 and have since worked on all German courses (beginners to final year degree level) in the Department of Languages. This included designing courses and authoring teaching units, designing assessment strategies and materials, and the production of audio, video, CD/DVD-Rom and online materials. I was also involved in the introduction of synchronous tuition at the Open University and early efforts in this on our Level 2 German course won the team an OU Teaching Award (2001-2002) for "intergrating Internet-based real-time audiographic conferencing tools into distance language learning". I have also authored teaching units and acted as teacher or course director on many of our residential schools in Jena, Germany.

Since 2004 I have chaired the level 3 German language and culture course L313 Variationen. From 2008-2010, I chaired the production team of a new version of the course which achieved high student ratings in its first year. This course follows well established OU distance language learning pedagogy, but differs from previous Open University language courses in

• the consistent use of interactive online materials which increases learner mobility and accessibility versioning,
• the use of the internet as a source for information, peer interaction and collaborative sense making, and
• a strong emphasis on international German and intercultural exploration of German speaking cultures.

I am currently Head of German at the Department of Languages and have lead or coordinated various teams and groups in the past, including the chairs of level 3 courses and the Diploma group. I have lead or contributed to various working groups which included areas such as assessment, production efficiency and on-line authoring.

Research Interests

My research interests are intercultural awareness and communication in language learning, and social/collaborative language learning technology.

I am currently member of a reseach project on "Identities, beliefs and values of Associate Lecturers in Languages at the Open University" which is investigating how our OU language teachers mediate intercultural awareness with their distance language teaching practice. I am also developing proposals for a longitudinal study on collaborative intercultural exploration and sense-making in asynchronous text forums on higher level language courses.

Past research includes instant messaging and social bookmarking in language learning, as well as government funded research into Language learning at keystage 2 (2007-2009). I have also organised conferences, edited and published in the fields of migration, German film studies and the history of German Studies.

I am treasurer and past president of the Association of Modern German studies (AMGS) and have co-organised conferences and edited special issues in areas relevant to the work of the AMGS. I am editorial board member of IJPL (International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning) and previously of GfL (German as a foreign Language).

Publications