605

This is going to be a log of AcWr group 605 (2011-2012): to record the students' progress and problems both in mastering writing and ICT skills

Throughout September posted comments in the blog

19.10.2011

After about a month of working with the students in the blog, had an (unplanned) training session with them to help them learn how to add hyperlinks to their posts because they did not know how to do it, even though they included links to the resources they used to create their genre handouts.

General impression at present is that they are rather uncertain about trying something new and learning some simple things on their own or from each other.

Typing speed rather slow

A lack of independent study skills

Look for constant guidance and advice

26.10.2011

First essay published in the blog. The majority are quite good in quality - for details see my comments to individual essays. However, one incident is worth mentioning: one student typed her essay but did not want to publish it before I had a look at it. She did not want the others to see that she could have some errors in her work. I suggested that I would read it and comment on it; she will revise it and then post it in the blog.

Had a diffcult time trying to explain to the students why we are using a blog or rather when we will switch to the wiki and what will happen with the blog. Clearly it was a decision which now seems to be not very well thought through. The question is how to go about it? How to justify these decisions. Originally I thought blogging would give us a chance to focus on the essay content and organisation and when they get used to it, I would introduce the wiki to them. But I see now this decision had to be made based on what? How do you measure familiarity with the medium and the procedure of working in it? Do not have the answer.