Post for 10/19: Third Other Resource Reading and Thinking Blog 16

Third Reading and Thinking Blog for Other Resources: 16

Goldberg, A., Russell, M., & Cook, A. “The effect of computers on student writing: A meta-analysis of studies from 1992 to 2002.” Journal of Technology, Learning, and Assessment 2.1 (2003). Print.

Electronic Representation:
http://ejournals.bc.edu/ojs/index.php/jtla/article/view/1661

Summary:
- Numerous studies demonstrate that word processing improves the quantity and quality of student writing, particularly in the middle and high school years. This improvement was seen over students using paper and pencil and is probably due to increased ability and occurrence of revision.
- Computer use seemed to enhance writing motivation thus producing more text, spending longer on task, and writing more often compared to paper and pencil.
- “In general, research over the past two decades consistently finds that when students write on computers, writing becomes a more social process in which students share their work with each other. When using computers, students also tend to make revisions while producing, rather than after producing, text. Between initial and final drafts, students also tend to make more revision when they write with computers. In most cases, students also tend to produce longer passages when writing on computers… For educational leaders questioning whether computers should be used to help students develop writing skills, the results of our meta-analyses suggest that on average students who use computers when learning to write produce written work that is about .4 standard deviations better than students who develop writing skills on paper. While teachers undoubtedly play an important role in helping students develop their writing skills, the analyses presented here suggest that when students write with computers, they engage in the revising of their work throughout the writing process, more frequently share and receive feedback from their peers, and benefit from teacher input earlier in the writing process” (20).

Points of Interest:
Items that lead to improved quality:
- Increased revision occurring throughout the writing process
- Increased collaboration
- Increased motivation and ease of production
- Increased feedback