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Developing German writing skills by way of Timbuktu1

A pilot study comparing computer-based and conventional teaching

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 December 2008

Uschi Felix  and
Michael Lawson
Uschi Felix
Affiliation:
Language Centre, Monash University, Australia
Michael Lawson
Affiliation:
School of Education, Flinders University, Australia
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Abstract

This paper reports on a pilot project which examined the effects on essay writing skills in advanced German of computer-based teaching which allowed a co-operative approach to writing and the pmvision of immediate teacher and peer feedback through the interactive display and networking of student work.

Third year German students were assigned to computer-based or conventional teaching groups taught by two different teachers using common materials and the same task-based approach. Prior to implementation of the project and again at the end, students were given a standard writing task to allow the level of their writing skills to be evaluated structurally and linguistically. The major focus was on the development of arguments, together with appropriate intmductions and conclusions. Grammar and expression were also measured to check whether the absence of an explicit focus on grammar had a detrimental effect on accuracy.

The students in these two groups along with all other third year German students completed a questionnaire that elicited information about their abilities and interest in German and their attitude to the use of computers. Teacher evaluation and qualitative data were obtained from participating students at the end of the project. Results indicated that the experimental students achieved significantly higher ratings for the logical linking of ideas in the body of their essays and were positive about the technology.

Type
Research Article
Information
ReCALL , Volume 8 , Issue 1 , May 1996 , pp. 12 - 19
Copyright
Copyright © European Association for Computer Assisted Language Learning 1996

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