Susan Bleyle Semire Dikli Georgia Gwinnett College SETESOL 2009
Main
purpose What is OWE?
Advantages Disadvantages
Problem
statement
Process approach requires a great amount of time and effort from the teachers. Feedback on writing has been found to be highly individual and/or situation specific. Many OWE systems were originally designed for native English speakers, but they were developed and marketed for non-native speakers, as well.
ď‚ž What
are the student perceptions of using an OWE system in a college ESL classroom?
15
advanced ESL students in a writing course for matriculated students
primarily U.S. high school graduates from various linguistic backgrounds
Student Survey
drafts
Over
the course of a semester, students wrote a minimum of two drafts on six prompts •
3 were written using an OWE system. 3 were written in-class using pen and paper and revised at home using Microsoft Word. At the end of the semester, students completed a survey to ascertain their perceptions of using OWE as compared to the more traditional essay formats
Survey results Planning Writing Feedback Scoring Revising
are tallied:
Do you plan your essays (e.g. brainstorm, map, outline) before writing? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Never Rarely Usually Always
0 2 5 7
(14.3%) (35.7%) (50%)
Which do you generally prefer for planning your essays? 1. Criterion 2. Paper and pencil/pen 3. Other
2 11 2
(14.3%) (78.6%) (14.3%)
Negative comments: “I prefer planning my essay on paper because I can see my ideas in an expanded way.” “I like to use paper and pen for planning my essay. I feel comfortable writing on the paper better than on computer.” Neutral comments: “I have never use the “Make a Plan” feature, so I do not know what I don’t like about it.”
Which do you generally prefer for writing your essays? 1. Criterion 2. Paper and pencil/pen 3. Other
5 7 4
(35.7%) (50%) (28.6%)
Postive comments: “I like Criterion better because it has spell check and sometimes I'm not sure how to spell words. Also, I like Criterion because I'm saving paper.” “I prefer both Criterion and on paper because I like to brainstorm on paper before writing it on Criterion.”
Negative comments: “I like to use paper and pen writing essay better than use Criterion. Because I turn on the computer that make some noise, I cannot concentrate to plan my essay.” Other: “I like use Microsoft word because it can correct some mistakes and spelling. Furthermore, it also have many kind to choose to make my essays more interesting such as color, frame, art...”
How helpful do you find the Instructor Pop-Up Notes on Criterion? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Not at all helpful Not very helpful Somewhat helpful Very helpful
1 1 7 6
(7.1%) (7.1%) (50%) (42%)
How helpful do you find the Instructor General Comments on Criterion? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Not at all helpful Not very helpful Somewhat helpful Very helpful
0 1 5 8
(7.1%) (35.7%) (57.1%)
How helpful do you find the Criterion Trait Feedback (feedback on grammar, mechanics, usage, style, etc.)? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Not at all helpful Not very helpful Somewhat helpful Very helpful
2 2 7 4
(14.3%) (14.3%) (50%) (21.4%)
How do you prefer getting feedback on your essays? 1. 2. 3.
On Criterion On paper Other
5 8 2
(38.5%) (61.5%) (15.4%)
Positive comments: “i like the criterion feedback and the instructor feedback because both helped alot in rewriting my last draft” “Because it is easier for me to see my mistakes on Criterion.”
Negative comments: “Criterion is not 100% correct. Sometimes, it would give false feedback.” “not helpfull because it does not read the run on or other misstakes that only a profesor can faind.” “Either one would work, but on Criterion its not as clear as on paper.”
How helpful do you find the Criterion Essay Score of 1-6? 1. 2. 3. 4.
Not at all helpful Not very helpful Somewhat helpful Very helpful
9 0
2 (14.3%) 3 (21.4%) (64.3%)
Comments: “I like that it helps us become better writers. What I don't like is that sometimes it'll rate the essay good but deep down inside I know it's not the best that i can produce. Also, it pinpoints any error and sometimes there is no error to be fixed.” “I don't like the way it work with the scoring... But i like that it gives a lor of feed back.”
Which way do you prefer to revise your essays? 1. 2. 3.
On Criterion 4 On Paper Other
(33.3%) 5 (41.7%) 4 (33.3%)
Positive Comments: “I like it [Criterion] because I don't have to rewrite my entire essay, I can just correct it.” “I think it is easier to revise my essay on Criterion because I can see my teacher's grammar comments clearly.”
Negative Comments: “I like to use words to revise my essay. Because words format can save a copy and easy to correct or edit. However, Criterion format is not many function, for example, it can not enlarge the character.” “I like doing it on paper or on the microsoft word make ir easier to read and understand.”
Which of the following is your overall recommendation for Criterion: 1. 2.
3. 4.
That Criterion be used in the same way in future semesters That Criterion be used in future semesters with some changes (please explain below) That Criterion be made optional in future semesters That Criterion not be used at all in future semesters
5
(45.5%)
3
(27.3%)
3
(27.3%)
1
(9.1%)
Negative comments: “I think we don't need use criterion. It's not help somebody to improve their essays.” “many student can fail because of that software”
Positive comments: “the criterion is really a good resource, so it has to be use in future too.” “I think Criterion is a good way to practice writing essay. Sometimes, Criterion feedback is not 100% true, but I can get a hint of how I did on my essays.”
Suggestions for change: “Let the students decide if they would like to submit their thruough criterion or paper” “I think the Criterion format should be changed at least as same as Microsoft word's function. Because Criterion program function is limited. For example, essay cannot post double line in row, enlarge character,underline ,and add different color.”
For
Budget Classroom resources
For
teachers
As a support tool Inform students of limitations
For
schools
developers
More user friendly More attention to ESL writers
ď‚ž Contact
information:
Susan Bleyle sbleyle@ggc.edu
Semire Dikli sdikli@ggc.edu