Dissertation
THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC WRITING OF ARAB ESL LEARNERS
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/111910
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore how implementing process writing strategies with the support of technology might enhance the text organization of Arab ESL learners. It also aimed to find out how using technology-based learning could enhance their positive attitudes towards both writing in English and the use of technology as an instructional tool. One language teacher, the researcher, and three Arabic-speaking students attending the same writing class participated in this study. The research questions focused on the effect of technology as an instructional tool on the text organization of Arab ESL students as well as its effect on the participants’ attitudes towards writing. A qualitative exploratory methodology was employed to investigate the research questions. Data sources included classroom observation, pre- and post-interviews with students, and students’ essays.
The findings of the study indicated that teaching process writing strategies, in general, did not enhance the participants’ text organization, and the incorporation of the software, Writers’ Companion, did not help the participants improve their text organization. The findings also showed that the participants had positive attitudes towards the use of technology as an instructional tool in writing. They found the software easy to use, engaging, and time saving, and they seemed to prefer it over the traditional paper-based teaching approach. However, they did not indicate any change of attitudes towards writing in ESL. This study concludes that technology can be an effective instructional tool only if it is well designed and implemented properly to meet the students’ learning outcomes in the writing classroom.
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Details
- Title
- THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY-ENHANCED ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE ACADEMIC WRITING OF ARAB ESL LEARNERS
- Creators
- Maysoun Ali
- Contributors
- Joy Egbert (Advisor)Barbara Ward (Committee Member)Gisela Ernst-Slavit (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Department of Teaching and Learning
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 77
- Identifiers
- 99900581824401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation