Developing writing skills through

ICT

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Effects of Web-based writing:

•Web contains real language in meaningful
context

(Warschauer & Healey 1998)

•Ls are language creators, not simply
recipients

(Brown 1991)

•L autonomy is promoted

(Graus 1999)

•Web changes attitudes, motivates Ls to
write

(Kern 1995)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Effects of Web-based instruction:

•LL time and space extended beyond
classroom

•provides context for authentic interaction/
communication

•expands topics beyond classroom

•fosters L-centred instruction

•encourages participation

(Gonglewski et al.

2001)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Student-related goals in Web-based
classes

•need for writing practice

•need for a real purpose

•need for authentic audience

•need for authenticity in writing

(Trokeloshvili &

Jost 1997)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Teacher-related goals in Web-based
classes

•improved writing in all areas

•higher awareness/consciousness

•writing with a purpose

•general understanding of the technology

•active communication

•students’ enthusiasm

•general computing/typing skills

•work outside instruction paradigm

(Trokeloshvili &
Jost 1997)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Traditional approaches to writing:

•no real audience

•no real interaction

•intended lack of response

•writing detached from authenticity

(Campbell

2004)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Web-based approach to writing:

•mutual interest between writer and
recipient (weblogs)

•Ss become better communicators

•Ss interact and collaborate via email

(Belisle

1996)

•electronic networking helps Ls
create/produce/analyse info more efficiently

(Krajka 2007)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Web-based approach to writing:

•word processing enhances writing quality,
grades,
motivation

•Ss more willing to produce more drafts

•vital electronic skills are developed
(emailing single/multiple recipients, blogging,
posting commentaries)

(Neu & Scarcella 1987)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Approaches to teaching writing online:
(1) Writing as a process

•stages emphasised:

focusing/ generating ideas /drafting/
structuring/ reviewing/ evaluating/

(Krajka 2007)

•wikis can be utilised for the purpose

(Leuf &

Cunningham 2001)

•word processing reduces drudgery in text
revision/refinement

(Cunningsworth 2000)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

(2) Writing as a product

•final product emphasised (model of a
genre):

layout/ paragraphing /formulaic
expressions/ structuring/ reviewing/
evaluating/

(Krajka 2007)

•valid for pre-exam preparation work

(CAE,

New Matura in Poland)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

(3) Writing as collaboration

•instruction within communicative paradigm

(pair work/group work)

•Ss research ideas/write collaboratively/peer-
review drafts (review tools used: track
changes, insert comments)

•wikis facilitate collaborative writing

(Lamb 2004; Krajka 2007)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

(4) Writing as a follow-up to Web-based
activities

•Ss consolidate/complement instruction in
other skills in post-Web stage (in writing)

•Ss react to input productively

•activate new language

•share online experiences (on blogs, LMS’s,
discussion groups)

•

(Krajka

2007)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Web tools facilitating writing

•online dictionaries

(Cambridge Online, Webster)

•thesauri

•lexical databases

(Wordnet, Lexical Freenet)

•concordancers

(Web Concordancer)

•word processor proofreading functionalities

(grammar check-ups,

spellchecks, autotext

)

(Hughes
2003)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

Web applications

•emails

(Belisle 1996; Liao 1999)

•journaling

(Suzuki 2004)

•Web publishing

(Stevens 2004)

•blogging

(Campbell 2004)

•e-porfolios

(on CD’s/DVD’s) (digital artefacts,

personal anthologies)

(Chen 2005)

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

(bibliography)

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Campbell, A.P. (2004) Using LiveJournal for authentic communication in EFL classes. The Interne t

TESL Journal, 10(9).

Chen, Y.M. (2005) Electronic portfolios and literacy development. A course design for EFL

university. Teaching English with Technology, 5(3).

Cunningsworth, A. (2000)

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476.
 

Dydaktyka szczegółowa - wykład Mariusz Marczak, PhD

Developing writing skills
through ICT

(bibliography)

Krajka, J. (2007) English Language Teaching in the Internet-Enhanced Environment. Lublin: UMCS

University Press.

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