Collaborative Word-Processing. Evaluation of Exploratory Studies in Education Computing, Study 12

ISBN-10
0908567847
ISBN-13
9780908567843
Category
Creative writing
Pages
40
Language
English
Published
1989
Authors
Daniel Ashworth, David Atmore

Description

This study sought to examine the group dynamics of children working and learning collaboratively on a computer-based instructional writing task. Standard 3 and 4 children at two urban primary schools in the Dunedin area of New Zealand were assigned the task of producing illustrated interactive stories using the "Twist-a-plot" program. Pupils worked in groups of about four members where group membership was determined in various ways (the "independent variable"). Allocation to group was child-initiated, teacher-initiated, or a mixture of the two, with social attractiveness and scholastic abilities taken into consideration. At the end of each phase, all groups and individuals were given a standard detailed interview designed to examine aspects of group dynamics, in particular, leadership roles, participation in the task, and attitude toward the group and the task. The major findings were: (1) virtually all groups completed the word processing writing task, irrespective of the method of allocation to group; (2) children were happy to work in mixed-sex groups but reluctant to publicly choose to work with pupils of the opposite sex; (3) both boys and girls tended to believe that "boys are good at pictures and story, and girls are good at typing"; (4) in groups of mixed scholastic ability slower pupils are likely to be left behind; and (5) children do not have much awareness of group processes. Appendices include the student interview schedules, a rationale and analysis of the term two and term three interviews, and a summary of responses to the term four interviews. (5 references) (Author/DB)

Get the book

Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Search the book
eBay.com
eBay.com
Search the book

Similar books