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

• In Event: 54.058 - Technology, Literacy, and Content Learning

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.

Authors

• Shiyu Song, University of Connecticut

• Sarah D. Newton, University of Connecticut

• Simon Wang, University of Connecticut

• Addison Zhao, University of Connecticut

• Scott W. Brown, University of Connecticut

• Kimberly A. Lawless, University of Illinois at Chicago