SECOND POSTING : Computer Assisted Writing

Computer Assisted Writing

This week, I’ve given a task by my lecturer, to write about Computer Assisted Writing and post it to my blog. I’ve done some reading and researches about the given topic by using “Online Teaching and Learning in ELT” book and also internet. Based on my findings, the use of computer expended rapidly during the 1980’s to the end of decades. Computer functions such as word processing have been of great assistance to writer in modifying their writing. Word processing programs with its capability to add, delete, and rearrange text are seems to be far advance from the traditional writing process by using pencil and paper approaches. Most researches in this area indicate that the use word processor in writing lead to a better writing outcomes than the use of paper and pencil or conventional typewriters. Computer assisted writing is a process that determines writing performance in which it involves prewriting activities, drafting, revising, editing and final publication. Before indulged further, we have to differentiate between online and offline writing.

According to Harasim et al, 1995, various methods have been proposed to make teaching more effective and attractive. Online learning is one of the latest additions to the currently practiced delivery methods. Furthermore, based on Barker’s research in the year 2000, a rapid growth in the use of online materials and electronic teaching webs in realizing educational objectives. In fact, the number of studies on the use of tools are available on the internet is fast growing. Among the tools that have been tried for language teaching are the electronic mail, the bulletin board, the online chat room, the computer conferencing and web based online learning system. A number of researchers found that students’ participations increased greatly in the electronic mode. Among the researchers, who compared the two environments are Sullivan and Pratt (1996) and as well as Kern. Sullivan and Pratt reported 85- 92% participations and Kern mentioned 86-88% participations in each the two classes (online and offline) spent their time in online discussion compare to face to face class discussion, which is only around 37- 39%.

In addition, there were also studies that compared the performance of online with offline students. One of the studies was conducted by Thirunarayanan and Perez- Prado (2001/2002). They claimed that online students did better in the course than their classroom based counterparts. In contradict, other studies have found differing results about the performance of online and offline students. According to Barry & Runyan 1995, Johnson et al.2000, and Johnson 2002 there is no significant difference in the performance of students who are taking face to face classes and students taking online courses. Based on my findings from “Online Teaching and Learning in ELT” book, there was no obvious difference between the performance of the online and the offline students in term of their coursework but, there is a small difference between the two modes of the students. In which the offline students seemed to do better in their end of semester exam and the final exam compare to online students.

Although, there are many researches on the performance of the students in both modes but, in my view, the computer assisted writing helps students to perform better in their writing skills. Moreover, the better performance in computer assisted writing normally based on some specific computer soft wares. Computer software is the overall term to describe the computer data and instructions that are installed and stored electronically within a computer. Software can be divided into both system software and application software. System software (operating system) and associated utilities are the information that essentially directs, runs and organizes the computer hardware and overall features of the computer to make it a functioning unit. Application software includes specific material or programs that are loaded onto the computer by the user for a purpose, such as word prediction or word processing software. There are many computer software products on the market which can make life easier for computer users with disability such as Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) software for reading, Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) software for writing, grammar checking software, Internet browsers—text-based, screen reading software, speech recognition software, and spell checking software.

Besides that, computer programs for writing help students with developing ideas, organizing, outlining, and brainstorming. Word prediction is one of the computer programs which helps students to identify words that student uses repeatedly; when the student types the first few letters, the program lists frequently used words that start with those letters and speeds up the typing process. Next is speech-to-text program which helps student to speak into a microphone and the program types the words; program must be "trained" to the student's word pronunciation and speech style; student must be taught how to use the program and increased speed from thought to text. Another program which helps students to hear what he or she has typed to check if it says what he or she wants it to say and good for editing is text-to-speech program. Spell-checker helps student to identify misspelled words and automatically corrects words if the teacher set the program that way .At last thesaurus offers student other words that mean the same as the word he or she is using and adds variety to student's writing and increases student vocabulary.

Furthermore, the performance of students also can be developed through computerized writing activities. There are various websites which host computerized writing activities. One of the activities is Computer assisted sentence production which we can find from http://www.manythings.org/casp/. This activity mainly asks us to fill in the blanks and answer a few questions which already designated in the program in order the computer or Java script codes to write the entire sentences for us. This program designated mainly to improve writing skills of students.

The next activity is the Computerized Pre-Professional Skills Test in Writing assesses the ability use grammar and language appropriately and the ability to communicate effectively in writing; this ability are essential to a well educated adults in a profession role. The writing test is 68 minutes in length has separately timed sections: a 38 minutes multiple choice section containing 44 multiple choice questions on the use of standard English and a 30 minutes essay section that requires a writing sample based on an essay topic.

In addition, we also able to find some more computerized writing activities on various websites as follows:
www.wsu.edu/~aaa/activities.htm
www.writngcenter.uottwa
www.school-news-usa.com/NYC_Lesson_Plan.asp
www.homeschool.com

In conclusion, no doubt that computer assisted writing has tremendously helps the students and others to improve their writing skills. Although there are various and different types of opinions arise on this matter: whether computer assisted writing is helping to enhance the ability and the performance of the user or not, its basically depends on the types of the computer assisted writing soft wares used and the activities involved.