When we conceived the idea for this panel at 2002's
Computers and Writing
Conference, our main point was to create a dialogue. We wanted to
report on some of the ways technology had impacted the way we teach
composition. Kathleen was getting ready to teach our sophomore
composition class in the computer lab for the first time and wanted to
know how this would affect her classes. Her concern was what actually set
us to work evaluating the way changes teaching in the computer labs have
impacted our pedagogies.
We expected our reflection to show mostly positive changes. Instead,
each of us learned that we had to be prepared for some negatives and some
losses when making the transitions. Our composition classes were already
interactive, yet electronic communication provided us with new ways to
relate to our students. Kathleen's own survey of students showed her that
twenty-one out of thirty-five felt they were losing the closeness of the
traditional classroom when they moved behind the monitors in the computer
lab. Diana also noted that many of the class entries in electronic
discussions were monologues with little response from classmates or posts
about the weekend activities. Another negative surfaced occasionally in
the electronic discussions in Hallie's classes when males dominated the
entries or cut the discussion short by their confrontational responses.
Yet, as Hallie and Jodi pointed out, using electronic exchanges
between classmates has fostered positive results in their classes. Hallie
is one of several who has noted the fact that females who are silenced in
class can be active participants on the class discussion list. Jodi's
online journals actually allowed the students to create a sense of
intimacy between the writers and their audience.
As Diana suggested, we do need to be more reflective on how these
technologies are changing the ways we teach composition. Our audience at
2002's Computers and Writing Conference had several suggestions for us on
how to avoid any negative results; one participant noted that as new forms
of communication develop, they have their own conventions. We find
ourselves learning as we teach our students to write successfully using
the newest technologies.
We encourage you to contact
us with any concerns, comments, suggestions,
or questions!
