Google Docs, an online word processing application, is a promising tool for collaborative learning. However, many college instructors and students lack knowledge to effectively use Google Docs to enhance teaching and learning. Goals of this study include (1) assessing the effectiveness of using Google Docs in an out-of-class collaborative writing…

Finds that college students were aware of, and understood the function of, some common design elements (boldface, italics, numbered lists) but were much less aware of other design elements (headers, indentation, and line spacing); and that perceptions of design elements correlated strongly with self-reported experience using word processing…

Examines relationships among computer experience, attitudes, writing behaviors, and writing quality for advanced undergraduate students who have owned Macintosh computers for at least three years. Finds that writing attitudes and practices are fairly well ingrained for the less competent writers, and they need to become comfortable with the…

Describes how computers were integrated into freshman writing classes at Middlebury College without shifting the emphasis of the class away from writing. (AEW)

A meta-analysis compared quality of writing samples of 836 students (kindergarten through college) using word processors versus traditional writing methods. Study found small but significant improvement of quality of those using word processors; no significant difference between experienced and nonexperienced writers; small, significant positive…

Twenty-five students, all undergraduates except one, were informally surveyed to determine their attitudes toward the use of word processing in the writing of student papers. Their responses indicated that the use of a word processor was a matter of personal choice with such factors as speed, convenience, storage, and print-outs cited as…

A study to determine the effect of an interactive checker on student grammar and writing skills and on student attitudes about those skills found that those using the interactive checker have more positive feelings. Findings also indicated that those students writing with a computer gain equal proficiency in grammar. (JOW)

Investigated three methods of teaching word-processing skills to rehabilitation counseling students (N=26). Students trained with a "manual plus demonstration" performed significantly better than a "manual only" or a "manual plus lecture" group. Student attitude toward computer technology improved regardless of the training method used. (BH)

Examines changes in writing apprehension and blocking behavior among first- and second-language writers in first-year composition classes using computers. Finds that computer use alone did not reduce overall apprehension for either group and that it reduced blocking behavior for second-language writers but not for first-language writers. (SR)

An interim study measured changes in attitudes towards writing and the writing process among basic writing students taught in an electronic classroom (consisting of 25 networked computers). Students in six sections of basic writing which used the electronic classroom for at least 50% of their classroom time, and six control sections which did not…

A study was conducted at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Eau Claire and UW-Stout in 1992 to assess the computer skills of incoming college freshmen. Information about the students' computer skills was obtained through the use of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was distributed to 92 students at UW-Eau Claire and 86 students at UW-Stout.…

A pilot study examined the influence of team teaching, the use of computers, conferencing, and one-to-one immediate feedback on the development of writing skills of learning disabled students at Genesee Community College. Twelve students identified as learning disabled (LD) and who demonstrated great difficulty in introductory English classes were…

Seventy students in a college business communications course participated in a study to determine whether there were significant differences in students' attitudes toward the course when the traditional writing method or the word processing method was used. The study also sought to ascertain whether the traditional writing method developed a…

Explores how computer-assisted instruction (the ACCESS program) affected teaching goals and student responses in a freshman composition course. Finds that the quantity of student writing increased dramatically. Suggests that word processing offers new ways to provoke students' thoughts, encourage collaboration, and create a lively and interactive…

A group of 16 undergraduates learned WordPerfect through interactive videodisc and 16 others through videotape. No differences were found in word processing knowledge, learner attitude, or learning time between the two groups. In the interactive video group, those who spent more time learning the program received higher scores. (SK)