A Case Study in the Development of a Computer Support Writing Program for Post-Teaching Reinforcement at Tertiary Level

Abstract

Many Wellington Polytechnic students do not have effective writing skills. They need assistance to write clearly in the domains required for their courses. The research question asks whether assistance can be obtained from information technology as distinct from conventional teacher instruction. The study uses the methodology of action research to investigate the students' writing problems and to formulate a solution. Within a pattern of iterative cycles the solution was tested, modified and retested with students at Wellington Polytechnic. Students in the tests included both full and part-time students studying business communication; their ages ranged from 19 to 32 years. In Test One five students used You Write at their own discretion over an eight week period, and in Test Two twenty five students used the program in a one and a half hour letter-writing class. Testing You Write provided suggestions for revision of the program. It would be useful to repeat the tests with larger groups representative of both genders.