SECOND POSTING

Computer assisted writing

Hi everyone!

Welcome back to my blog. During the first time my instructor, Datin Dr Norizan mention about our second posting, I begin to get confuse of what I should write in my second posting. Nothing on my mind! As for today’s posting is about computer assisted writing, I have found a very interesting opinion from Zurina Mat Saman (zuriena.blogspot.com) which I want to share with all of you here.

“Giving an opportunity to write what you feel and what you think in blogspot is a very excellent idea. In this case, students have chances to articulate their feeling and thought freely, without any obstacles. It allows me to express and record my feelings and to access insights and strengths that I may otherwise miss. It is also allows me to express my feelings, experiences, dreams, ideas, desires, thoughts and many more, for reflecting on now, and in the future. I am telling my story to myself without fear, and without  worry that others will correct my mistakes on the spot… Sometime, I can use this blog as a medium to deliver my opinion to others, the thing that I cannot do in class, as if I am the king because nobody will say No! you are wrong here and I know that I am always right here.”

Activities in computer assisted writing

 There are several ways that one can use to improve their writing using computer assisted writing. In the world nowadays, internet and computer plays very important role to develop new lifestyle and help people to live in the simplest and easiest way. When we say about writing, I am sure all of us will feel uncomfortable because we always afraid that people may laugh at us if we spell wrong words and when we say about computer assisted writing, I am sure, we will definetely feel the same way as when we write in front of the class. Now, the world has changed. We can write online and get immediate feedback via internet in various programs such as online tuition and doing exercises in certain websites. For example, in this course, when we post our assignments, our instructor will give immediate feedback via internet by leaving comments in the shape of ideas and instructions. After I read my coursebook-Online Teaching and Learning in ELT, I have found that online writing has giving some opportunities and space for students and especially the one who just started blogging-like me!, to expand their knowledge in the cyber world. In the same time, we can see that online writing is actually encourage students to be creatical thinker and dare to think in creative way. Because the online writing is handle in a site, students began to gain their courage to write without feeling ashame if they are doing mistakes because their instructor only guide them in private. Referring to the researches that has been done in the OTL Coursebook, there are different results has shown about the performance of students on online and offline writing course. The research show that there was no obvious difference between the performance of the online and offline students in term of their coursework. However, the mean of the end of semester exam and the final exam differ in the offline students seemed to do better. If you want further information, please refer to OTL Coursebook, page 14. In both online and offline course, students are required to submit their assignments in hard copy form. This show that most of the online students resorted to face-to-face interaction to inquire about their assignments. Compare to the online mode, the offline classes still had another three week of class with their teachers after their assignment was submitted. They might used the extra week to discuss the exam, which focussed mainly on citation skills.

How can one improve their writing using the computer?

There are various ways that a person can do to improve their writing skills especially using the computers. There are many computers software that you can use. For example, you can write in Microsoft word. Then you can check your spelling and grammatical error, count your words and edit your text. Isn’t that simple and easy way to follow?
Then, you can improve your writing skill by surf to a few academic website.

These are some of the website that you can visit:
1. http://www.ericdigests.org
2. http://www.utoronto.ca
3. http://book.google.com.myNext, you can visit http://www.eslcafe.com to try more exercises. You can also participating and join a few Online English Club.

Here are some of the URL that host computerized writing activities:
1. http://www.iteachilearn.com
2. http://www.WritingSoftwareTools.com
3. http://www.EditAvenue.com
4. http://www.NortelLearniT.org
5. http://www.esl.about.com/library/lessons/blwritingplans.htm
6. http://www.teachers-call.com/2008/02/esl-writing-activities-computer-based-editing-and-correction-lessons.html
7. http://www.lclark.edu/~krauss/tesol98/home.html
8. http://www.iteslj.org/Articles/Belisle-Email.html
9. http://www.mariannedyson.com/sfspin.html
10. http://www.iearn.org/circles/lcguide/cc/cc.html
11. http://www.kasei.ac.jp/cs/mariko/Miyao02call%20proc.pdf
12. http://www.ets.org/Media/Tests/PRAXIS/pdf/5720.pdf
13. www.accpc.ca/elp-ts-earlywriting.htm

Happy blogging!