Language and Linguistics Seminar Series: Week 7 with Dr Mufeeda Irshad, University of Sri Jayewardenepura

ABSTRACT

Even though many studies have shown that collaborative writing improves learners’ writing performance (Yim, Wang, Olson, Vu, & Warschauer, 2017; Yeh, 2014), little is known about the impact of  motivation, an individual learner characteristic,  on formal on-line collaborative writing development of mixed ability groups where intra and inter student variation and variability is a common feature (Verspoor, Lowie, & Van Dijk, 2008). This research seeks to find out if the individual learner characteristic, motivation, has an impact on learner engagement and collaborative writing development using Google Docs in order to further inform teachers regarding its benefits and challenges. A quasi-experimental longitudinal study of two semesters using mixed measures will be conducted to address the research questions.   A sample of seventy first year students of the Faculty of Management Studies and Commerce of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura will participate in the study. The theoretical base of the research is the Complex Dynamic System Theory (Larsen Freeman, 2012). This   investigation is significant, for  on-line collaborative writing in formal classroom setting is fast gaining popularity in Sri Lanka, and  it is reported to be holding  potential as a promising new technique for instruction (Yim et al.).