Assessment and the Big Fade

In assessing the ongoing experiments in collaborative writing, several initial evaluations have surfaced. The quality of writing appears generally good (for example, "The Four Mystical Seasons of Love and Union") and peer review may be an important factor in that, as well as the sense of belonging to a group and not wanting to disappoint the others or oneself in front of the others. When collaborative essay are submitted to the discussion list students are writing for an audience of peers and not only in an exchange with the professor. This kind of peer audience and review is a more realistic procedure for how much writing is actually done outside of school.

Computer proficiencies developed or expanded through the use of email, discussion list, chat, web navigation, word processing, etc.. Some students were similar to my earlier self, attempting to "get by" without even a first name (or any name) basis with computers. Most of the time students appreciated this new or deepened proficiency

Perhaps more importantly, mid-course self-reflective writings, self-evaluations, student evaluations at the end of a course, conversations with students and the work produced during the course suggest that the level of enjoyment and the effectiveness of learning seem much greater in a course that includes a fair amount of collaborative writing enriched through various technologies. In addition, it gives a varied pace and rhythm to a study.

Anonymous student evaluations emphasize learners' own appreciation of this:

The discussion list … provided a… forum to express thought… Keep on, Keepin on into the world of cyber teaching.

I liked the integration of computer use with our class work… this is one of the BEST classes I have taken.

This one (course) has come off as being less professor centered and more student centered.

Course has really improved my critical thinking and creative writing.

After the different teaching style become normal, I liked the creativity which developed in my writing and learning technique.

I learned that there are other ways to learn. I also learned how to think.

Student Commentary

The Old vs. The New