This paper describes a classroom game designed to help students overcome their fear of writing. Two classes of top- and middle-ability adolescents were divided into pairs to work on a single composition. After the teacher proposed the initial sentence, the partners took turns writing sentences to complete the story. Although the collaborative…

Noting that electronic communication places new demands on language that leads to interesting variations in written language use, this Digest summarizes insights gained from research on writing behavior and performance in the electronic age. It concludes that both the process and the content of writing are evolving in response to the increased use…

Describes four research projects that used technology to support reading and writing activities of students with learning disabilities: the first used computerized speech feedback to improve reading skills of elementary students; the second used projection plates in collaborative writing projects; the third used hypertext study guides with ninth…

Discusses collaborative planning as a heuristic for dealing with the rhetorical elements often considered by experienced writers when they plan and prepare documents. Defines collaborative planning, identifies its benefits, discusses its implementation in upper-level business communication courses, and presents a series of examples of students…

Presents a 33-item annotated bibliography of articles and books in 6 areas essential for both novice instructors and those experienced in assigning collaborative writing: (1) research implications; (2) theoretical foundations; (3) cooperative learning; (4) small group dynamics; (5) pedagogical practices; and (6) textbooks. (RS)

A project in which students can develop their understanding of mathematical concepts through the collaborative writing of word problems is discussed. Worksheets for project requirements and daily requirements are provided. A Thanksgiving project is proposed. The use of a fashion modeling problem in the statistics classroom is described. (CW)

Answers questions about collaborative learning and offers some strategies to use with students. (MG)

Offers a view of writing as a process involving three forms of collaboration: coauthoring, workshopping, and knowledge making. Offers guidelines for designing courses in which writing is consciously, deliberately collaborative in all three of the realms identified. (MG)

A project at Loyola University of Chicago and Northwestern University has three teams of two students each write papers and present them at a joint meeting. One team from a university writes in support of a particular side, while its counterpart at the other university takes the opposite view. (MLW)

Reviews studies that deal with word processing and writing. Areas covered include surveys of research on the effects of word processing on writing instruction; students' attitudes toward writing; composing behavior; collaborative writing; revising; and reading and writing, emphasizing screen design. Implications for instruction are then suggested.…

Outlines a collaborative writing exercise designed to help students develop position statements for persuasive essays. Notes that this exercise helps students adopt the discursive style and language of the academic community, as well as develop reader-based arguments. (MM)

Discusses the Language Experience Approach and process writing, two methods which approach reading and writing as active processes, stressing communication and meaning. Asserts that these methods are compatible and shows how they can be combined and incorporated into kindergarten and primary level classes. (MM)

Describes a joint story writing session in which remedial English students and their teacher thought through, pondered, and revised a narrative text that was based on their previous reading of a novel. Argues that such an activity offers students opportunities for reflection and literacy development. (RS)

Discussion of the use of computers in education focuses on the development of a fully distributed computer environment at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). The software, NEOS (Networked Educational Online System) is described, and its use in an engineering and scientific writing course and in an essay course is explained. (LRW)

Offers several collaborative strategies that integrate reading and writing with mathematics instruction. Includes sample lessons demonstrating the applicability of these strategies across grade levels and topics in mathematics. (SR)