Many students with learning disabilities (LD) and emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD) struggle with the writing process. Technology has shown to be effective in supporting prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, and publishing of written products. This article explains the use of one technology-based graphic organizer with embedded…

In this Symposium focused on MOOCs, this journal carries forward a tradition of attending to the technologies associated with composing and the teaching of composing. In the May 1983 issue of "College Composition and Communication," for example, most of the articles focus on composing and include a mix of inquiries, from Jack Selzer's on the…

Optical Character Recognition Scanners (OCR) scan typed text and feed it directly into word processing systems, saving input time. OCRs are valuable in word processing training programs because they allow more students access to classes and more time for skill training. (MD)

Asserts that the advantages of word processing for business writing classes are clear. Even though a teacher confronts giving up some lecture or discussion time, the hour spent in the lab frees students from tedious recopying, provides the teacher with professional-looking papers, and permits time for more writing assignments. (RAE)

Presents a case study to illustrate usefulness of a text-to-speech synthesizer system in improving editing and proofreading ability of college students with reading and writing difficulties. It is suggested that text-to-speech systems be connected to word processors to thoroughly investigate whether the system's use leads to permanent proofreading…

Arguing that children need access to word processing to reap the same benefits as adult writers, a fourth-grade teacher convinced her administration to provide one computer per child during their writing workshop periods. Having portable word processors liberated student writers by making the mechanical aspects of writing easier. Students could…

Two studies presented 2 groups of children--mean age 9.3 years (P5) and mean age 13.2 years (S2 "learning difficulty" students)--with computer-based writing tasks. Results from both individual and interactive writing situations show some online revision but the omission of a posttask revision stage, possibly because of a lack of…

Reviews two recent articles on computer use in the English classroom. Discusses ways that word processing programs for microcomputers can be used to teach revision. Identifies the equipment and software requirements for using the approach and discusses practical benefits. (DMM)

Describes an experiment at Montana State University in which 12 professors and four freshman composition students were trained to use the university's central computer as a word processor. Concludes that the computer can be a powerful revision aid for writing students. (FL)

Describes the collaborative process (involving authors, product managers, reviewers, students, and publication department) of the development of a first-year composition textbook that works to integrate word processing with the teaching of writing. Notes factors contributing to successful collaboration. (SR)

Word processing software can accommodate the writing deficiencies of high-functioning, learning-disabled college students, but documentation frequently needs revision for increased user-friendliness, better instructional layout, less complex syntax, and repetition of key concepts. A sample revision of one program is presented, focusing on switch…

Word processing may change how people learn to write. The use of a word processor to teach a sixth grader with writing problems showed how the machine can alleviate problems involving writing with pencil and paper, correcting errors, evaluating and revising, and producing a good-looking text. (RW)

Describes how teachers can use computer programs to combine the systematic coverage of a writing class with the individualization of a writing workshop. (MM)

This article describes a highly structured approach for improving the revising skills of students with learning disabilities that combines peer response, strategy instruction, and word processing. The strategy guides students in both the social and cognitive aspects of response and revision. Two studies demonstrating the effectiveness of the…

Outlines the advantages of using microcomputers in producing high school newspapers--word processors permit the generation of columnar newspaper copy and encourage student revision--and suggests three necessary characteristics in computer hardware--a large memory, good software, and reliable technical assistance for handling problems. (MM)