SKBP 1023 Language and ICT: Computer-Assisted Writing

Hello, as I promised before I will see you again in my next posting and here we are, now talking about a new topic. In this posting, I will going to explain and discuss more about computer-assisted writing and give some examples for software as well as the activities that related to computerized writing. After done some researches and references regarding to the topic, now I realized that what does the meaning and important for us to highlight the topic because everyday we use the computerized writing either areas in education, business, blog and related to it. Meaning to say every individual around the world are using computer-assisted writing as long as they have the computers as it shift and impact to our life especially in cyber world now.

Introduction.

The computer-assisted writing is virtually limitless, optimism and enthusiasm about the potential of word processing tools to facilitate students in the writing processes. Hence, the computerized writing can improve their products. Computer-assisted writing to help students with developing ideas, organizing, outlining, and brainstorming. Templates provide a framework and reduce the physical effort spent on writing so that students can pay attention to organization and content. There a many activities we can find in computerized writing like examples the Blog (weblog) is a activity in computerized writing where website consisting of time-stamped articles, post in a diary or journal format usually listed in reverse chronological order. Blog reflects the interests, opinions and personalities of the author called the blogger and sometimes site visitor. Blog at school provide a means for teacher and students. And the E-mail (electronic mail) is the transmission of messages and files via a computer network. E-mail is one of the more popular services in the internet, most messages expect a quick reply so hour can be spent dealing with other important thing.

Examples of URL that host the computerized writing activities:

https://www.blogger.com

http://writing.colostate.edu/activities/index.cfm?showdescriptions=show

http://www.abcteach.com/directory/basics/writing/writing_skills/

http://www.writingfix.com/

http://www.ohiou.edu/linguistics/esl/writing/index.html

Computer Programs for Writing:

Word prediction

Student-specific programs that identify words that student uses repeatedly; when the student types the first few letters, the program lists frequently used words that start with those letters
speeds up the typing process

Speech-to-text

student speaks into a microphone and the program types the words
program must be “trained” to the student’s word pronunciation and speech style
student must be taught how to use the program
increased speed from thought to text

Text-to-speech

student can hear what she has typed to check if it says what she wants it to say
good for editing

Spell-checker

helps student identify misspelled words
automatically corrects words if the teacher set the program that way

Thesaurus

offers student other words that mean the same as the word he or she is using
adds variety to student’s writing and increases student vocabulary

Note Taking Software

software enables users to enter typed text, handwritten comments, drawings or sketches anywhere on a page and then save the page as part of a notebook.

Electronic Mail

E-mails are messages and files sent via a network such as the Internet. E-mail requires an e-mail program and it integrated in many software suite and also operating systems.

Word processors are excellent tools for students who find handwriting tedious. Often, students with disabilities have difficulty with all the requirements for the writing process. They have trouble organizing their thoughts and then retaining those, thoughts long enough to put them on paper. Their handwriting must be neat enough and their spelling and grammar correct enough to convey their message, tasks that they may find difficult.

Examples of computerized writing software:

http://creative-writing-software-review.toptenreviews.com/index.html#anchor

http://www.clearwriter.com/clearedits.html?gclid=CLPx4unFgpICFQ41egodmh0L3Q

http://www.whitesmoke.com/

http://www.editorsoftware.com/writing-software/electronic-writing-course/introduction.html

In the reading of OTL book page 7, by Nuraihan Mat Daud and Ainol Marziah Zubairi, according to research in the Online and Offline Writing Course (OTL) at the International Islamic University Malaysia, the offline students get T-test for quality of mean (463) = 0.015, p < 0.05 and their final exam, t (463) = 0.000, p <0.05.

As for the result, the online students have a confidence computer to manage their learning skills. Computer programs for writing helps students with developing ideas, organizing, outlining and brainstorming. Templates provide a framework and reduce the physical effort spent on writing so that students can pay attention to organization and content.

Computer-assisted instruction improves instruction for students with disabilities because students receive immediate feedback and do not continue to practice the wrong skills. Computers also capture the students attention because the programs are interactive and engage the students spirit of competitiveness to increase their scores. In addition, computer-assisted instruction moves at the students pace and usually does not move ahead until they have mastered the skill.

Conclusion.

The logistical problems providing adequate computer facilities and training, increased constraints on lesson planning, increased in student dishonesty that may follow from computer-assisted writing and may discourage teachers from attempting to incorporate computer literate, the challenge of developing computer-based activities may seem overwhelming.

Thanks for viewing my blog and hope that I have fulfill my task on computer-assisted writing making it easy to understand, useful and beneficial for readers. My next posting will be post as soon as possible, until then, goodbye.