digital composing: utilizing students’ web skills for l2 collaborative writing

Norah FahimJennifer Eidum Zinchuk

University of Washington, Seattle, WA2014 TESOL Convention, Portland OR

Digital Composing: Utilizing Students’ Web Skills for L2 Collaborative Writing

Overview

• Definitions• Why write collaboratively?• Students’ reactions• How to use Google Drive• Discussion & Questions

Context Overview

• 1st year composition course • 4 year College• Matriculated students• Self-identity as Multilingual Learners (MLLs)• Self- enroll in MLL specific sections• Meet 4 days a week, 50 minutes each day• Total of 2 classes: 37 students

Introducing collaborative writing to your class

Present a pre-survey to your students: • Gives students chance to reflect on their

previous writing experience• Allows you to gauge how much preparation

and pre-discussion you need to have in class

What is Collaborative Writing? (from pre-survey)

• “It means different people have different job in the writing process and they contribute to the final article”

• “It means writing with extra help and different ideas”

• "Composing an essay together by [combining] ideas from each one in the group”

Students interpretation:

Students’ Prior Experiences with Collaborative Writing: Frustrations

– “It went badly because other people in my groups weren’t doing anything for the assignment so I had to do it myself”

– "[I've done it] twice—not so well (one as pairs – one a group search) ended up writing alone both times”

Students’ Prior Experiences with Collaborative Writing: Benefits

– "I think it’s great, because when you are in a group, everybody has different idea about the same topic, and after communication and synthesize notes, we can create a interesting and comprehensive article”

– “it went well since we communicate and agree with each other”

Why do Collaborative Writing?

• Why does writing have to be such an isolated process?

• Let's first think of our students' future writing projects in the workplace... – “Strauss (2001) argues that in many ways group

assessment reflects the reality of the real world where group work is increasingly valued in the workplace and where collaborative writing is a common practice” (as cited in Wigglesworth & Storch, 2009)

What More Can Collaborative Writing Offer?

• Traditional writing classrooms: – Focus on individual writing processes with

collaborative learning assignments utilized only in support of individual writing objectives

• Collaborative writing situations allow:– Reflection on individual writing choices– Increased engagement in the writing process with

their peers. (Storch, 2005)

Benefits to Collaborative Writing

• Collaborative writing, both in L1 and L2 environments, fosters reflective thinking with a consideration for rhetorical effectiveness, organization, style, and grammar. (Storch 2005).

• In addition, collaboratively written assignments tend to be more accurate and more concise (Storch 2005).

Why ONLINE Collaborative Writing?

• It's highly likely your students are competent internet users– Pre-writing survey of 2 classes:

But Still, Why ONLINE Collaborative Writing?

• Online collaborative writing provides students with a space they are in control of, and in a platform they are comfortable with

• Can't meet up with my writing partner! Meeting online solves that

• Layers of interaction give students multiple opportunities for contribution (comment, chat, voice, etc.)

“How to” Scaffold Collaborative Writing

• Pre-Writing Activities:– Engage with students’ prior experiences (good or

bad)Define term(s), brainstorm experiences, use survey– Set up clear expectations, responsibilities, and

accountabilityHave students consider assignment tasks, set up rubric, divide duties;Set up small tasks with due dates along the way

“How to” Scaffold Collaborative Writing

• Consider how you want to put students in groups: pairs? Small groups? You choose groups? Based on ability? Interests? They choose?

• Consider assessment and assignment timeline

Online Collaborative Writing Platforms

How to set up your Google Doc

• For students who already have a Google account (gmail, for example), they can just log into their account and then go to:

http://drive.google.com• For students who don’t have a Google account

they can create one by signing up at: https://accounts.google.com/

ORCreate an account

Log in to your Google account

How to set up your Google Doc

• After logging in, go to http://drive.google.com• Then, one student in the group should create

a new document:

In Google Drive you can create many different kinds of files.

This opens up possibilities for collaborative tasks such as group presentations, surveys, etc.

Create a new document

How to set up your Google Doc

• Once the document is created, NAME and SHARE it

Click here to Name the documentClick here to Share the document with your group (and instructor)

How to set up your Google Doc

Add your group mates’ email addresses here

And click “Done”

How to set up your Google Doc

Begin writing!

As you write, you can leave comments for your partner

Highlight text, select comment, and leave feedback

How to set up your Google Doc

Real-time Chat:• This colored box means your

group mate is online.

• Click the chat icon to open the chat box, and type here

How to set up your Google Doc

It is easy to download your doc as a traditional computer file

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Student Interaction During Collaborative Writing Process

In post-writing Survey• All students reported using Google Docs• A majority used the "Comment" function• Several used the chat function• Some also met face-to-face• One pair also used text messaging

Student Reflections on Using the Online Platform

• Instant Writing Feedback:

“Real time peer review. VERY Good!”

“Easier to finish the assignment and we can check errors for each other”

“It is very effective to use the ‘comment’ function, and everyone can see what is going on, and decide should we do the modification to that specific part”

Student Reflections (continued)

• Time management:

“We met online, because we have different courses at different time, so it is impossible for us to meet face-to-face. But the internet solves this problem. We did use Google docs and We chat to communicate with each other. That was offered me so many convenience”

Considerations•There’s always room

for improvement•Where do you take it from here?

Discussion Questions

• Can you imagine any assignments where you might ask students to write collaboratively online?

• What kinds of skills are students developing while doing online collaborative writing?

• What additional questions do you have for us?

References:

• Storch, N. (2005). Collaborative writing: Product, process and students’ reflections. Journal of Second Language Writing, 14, 153–173.

• Wigglesworth, G., & Storch, N. (January 01, 2009). Pair versus Individual Writing: Effects on Fluency, Complexity and Accuracy. Language Testing, 26, 3, 445-466.