Abstract:

The cutting edge digital technology has revealed the multiple options to teach and study the various subjects on the different competency proficiency levels. It allows to introduce and embed the collaborative tasks and projects into the teaching-studying process on a highly promoted level, i.e. the teachers and students can use information communication technology not only for searching and presenting information but also for creating the learning content in the digital format.

This project has targeted at the teacher and students co-working to compile the e-glossary on British Studies. It has had the multidisciplinary approach as it demands the advanced English language proficiency, the cross-cultural awareness and competence, the good digital skills while searching information on the internet, formatting and working on the e-glossary, the teamwork and interpersonal skills. Moreover, it can be used not only in the course on British Studies but also in other subjects and classes, depending on the school or university curriculum.

All this project participants have been the tertiary level students whose major is translation and interpreting and their teacher. British Studies were an obligatory course in the framework of which all the students were expected to make a portfolio including a glossary on the realias, terms, words with the specific meaning referring to the UK culture, history, geography, etc. The specific Covid-19 lockdown situation prompted the idea to change the glossary format that all the students supported eagerly.

On the first project stage the participants discussed the e-glossary topics, its layout and format, shaped the plan on their work, considered the digital tools. On the second stage they chose Google Documents (hereinafter Google Docs) as the most appropriate Web-based application, distributed the tasks, started preparing the off-line version. The final stage was the most challenging because solely the one team member appeared to be the only expert in Google Docs. His task was to give all the necessary instructions how to upload the materials.

The main project benefits and strengths have been students’ interest and motivation to compile the e-glossary: they did something absolutely new and they had a chance to boost their cross-cultural and digital competences. What is more, this e-glossary on Google Docs will be available for use and the work on it will continue further in the following academic years. The gained experience will be shared and recommended the others to apply and mature.

Keywords:

Collaborative work, digital learning materials, e-glossary, Google Docs, British Studies.