View Content #2009
| Contentid | 2009 |
|---|---|
| Content Type | 1 |
| Title | Helping online students improve writing |
| Body | Editor's Note: This discussion came up on the TESL-L listserv, but is applicable to any language. Question: Can you offer ideas on how to support ESL online students who are trying hard to do better with their writing? Replies: When working with online students, it is imperative that they understand that they are responsible for most of their own learning. It's easy enough using the current technology to present the material online. When it comes to correcting, students online should be taught how to collaborate with other students. Using the technology that is in front of them affords them to do their own research and look up resources that would help them understand the new material. Online teachers should be able to guide the students with a wide variety of resources to help them correct their own mistakes. I don't believe that online teaching should be taught the same as it is done in a face to face classroom. The technology should broaden their communicative skills through the use of chat rooms, blogs, emails, voice, web cams, etc. There is so much an online teacher can do to facilitate this way of thinking. If we want to enrich our online student's learning, then we need to start thinking outside the box and be willing to try new and different strategies for online learning. Simply correcting mistakes in an online environment doesn't always facilitate learning. Fujihara, R. Re: Online ESL support. Teachers of English to speakers of other languages electronic list. TESL-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (1 Sep. 2004). I think that you might want to post your question to TESLCA-L (the "TESL and Technology" branch of TESL-L). The members of that list specialize in teaching online and with computers, so their expertise will be just what you need. Many of the members of TESLCA-L are in the vanguard of teaching and technology and they are extremely generous with their time and help. Making corrections to writing in a virtual classroom is very different from writing comments and corrections in a traditional class situation. For a start, it can take about 500% longer to do. The time factor is crucial, and the folks on TESLCA-L can tell you how to create macros and so forth to streamline your responses to student writing. Since you are not able to meet with students face to face in order to explain or mitigate what you have written on their papers, it is really important to set up AT THE BEGINNING clear and transparent ways of communicating exactly what you mean (without setting yourself up for spending 5 times more time on the papers than you expected to). All in all, I would say that the adaptations you need to make for the use of technology are extremely important and that you should definitely ask the folks on TESLCA-L about these. Tillyer, A. Re: Online ESL support. Teachers of English to speakers of other languages electronic list. TESL-L@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU (26 Aug. 2004). |
| Source | TESL-L |
| Inputdate | 2004-09-03 02:33:00 |
| Lastmodifieddate | 2004-09-03 02:33:00 |
| Expdate | Not set |
| Publishdate | Not set |
| Displaydate | Not set |
| Active | 1 |
| Emailed | 1 |
| Isarchived | 1 |
