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Tight, _peer_ tutoring. I didn't pay attention to this when I first reponded to Plillipa, but it makes a difference. Responding via written comments is a much harder task than responding in person. It can still work, but with peer tutors I think a whole lot of careful training and modelling would have to come into the picture. Mary-Louise Craven wrote: > > Hi all. My 2c worth....Well, I no longer direct the Computer-Assisted Writing > Centre, but a service we started 10 years ago is still going > strong--etutoring. We have two *experienced* writing instructors (experienced > in both using computers and in giving feedback) who each work 10 hours a week > at home (on average; busy times it was more like 25 hours a week) , giving > feedback to students on their electornically transmitted essays (on any > topic--like the model of the Writing Workshop)--either through straight ascii > email, attachments, or on FirstCLass (our conferencing system). They take the > text and add their comments (usually capped). > > There is no fancy software requirement (see Cathy's comments below); money > is spent on a good computer and fast modem for them and on paying them for > their expertise. It takes some time to figure out what works as feedback > on-line and what doesn't. I remember doing some late at night-- it certainly > focuses the mind on the task! > > The tutors turned papers back within 36 hours; since they could work at home, > this was the trade-off to their promptness. How this would work with peer > tutoring I don't know. > Mary-Louise > > On Thu, 13 May 1999 14:31:40 -0700 [log in to unmask] (C Schryer) > wrote: > > >Hi Phillipa, I have been looking into this issue and will be doing some > >presenting at CATTW on three software packages that facilitate on-line > >commentary on student papers: Common space, Web Review and the Comment > >features in Word. > > > >I have also just heard of a new product that might facilitate the > >development of on-line products--Web Weaver. It sounds interesting and > >exciting because it is HTML compatible. > > > >YOu should also contact Dave Goodwin--he is working with a CD compatible > >system that is the equivalent of Web Weaver. > > > >If you get into the software let me know and we can exchange notes as I aim > >to play around with it this summer to see what it can do. > >-----Original Message----- > >From: Philippa Spoel <[log in to unmask]> > >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> > >Date: May 13, 1999 8:33 AM > >Subject: Advice on technology, please > > > > > >>Hello, > >> > >>I wonder whether members of CASLL would be able to help me out with > >>suggestions for a proposal I have to write in the next week. It's a > >>proposal about how we can integrate technology into our Centre for > >>Academic Writing. Primarily, I'm interested in ideas about > >>computer-assisted writing support. We have a peer-tutoring program that > >>is extremely popular with students, but up until now we have functioned > >>without any kind of computer support for this service. Our tutors > >>provide 50 minute individual consultations. As well, we offer a variety > >>of in-class and out-of-class workshops for students and for faculty. > >> > >>We aren't interested in technology that will do away with people, but > >>rather ways that we can enhance what we already do. In particular, we'd > >>like to set something up for distance writing support (that is, for > >>students off campus). > >> > >>I have no idea what if anything we will get from this proposal, but I > >>want to "think big" for now. I'd love to know what CASLL members would > >>ask for if you could have whatever you wanted for this kind of pedagogy. > >> > >>thank you! > >> > >>Philippa > >> -- Doug Brent Co-ordinator, Undergraduate Program in Communications Studies Associate Dean, Academic Programs and Faculty Affairs Faculty of General Studies, University of Calgary (403) 220-5458 Fax: (403) 282-6716 http://www.acs.ucalgary.ca/~dabrent