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More Than Just a Way to Communicate: Online Interactive Writing Leads to Improved Scientific/Written Argumentation

Sun, April 30, 12:25 to 1:55pm, Grand Hyatt San Antonio, Floor: Fourth Floor, Crockett D

Abstract

While students use academic writing to demonstrate knowledge, express thoughts, and reflect on their learning, advances in 21st-century technology have changed how students write in daily life. In the traditional school setting, students use pen and paper to convey ideas to one critical reader: the teacher. However, this process does not necessarily represent how students use writing as a tool in the real world. The GlobalEd 2 project provides an authentic online learning environment, in which 1,313 middle-school students showcased their writing products to a realistic audience of their peers. Larger numbers of student-initiated, online discussion posts coincided with more-developed and sophisticated writing, which featured significantly more persuasive, elaborated, and scientific words/phrases.

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