Technological Dialogism: Using iAnnotate to Foster Conversational
Response to Student Essays
Tialitha [email protected]
@ti.macklin http://timacklin.com
Starting a Conversation: Background on an Ongoing Study
Background: Shaping the Study
• Focus on Assessment with an aim towards Revision• WSU’s Composition Program is Portfolio-Based• Conferences • Technological Advances• Writers vs. Writing
Background: Volunteer Participants
• 9 Sections of English Composition (ENGL 101 and ENGL 105 – Composition for ESL Students)
• ~450 Student Participants
• 7 Teacher Participants
Background: Methodology
• Teachers = iAnnotate App with iPad and
(recently) Adobe Reader• Students = Dropbox and (recently) Adobe
Reader• Audio Annotation Only • Pre and Post Surveys• Volunteers for Interviews
Background: View of Commentary
Dialogic Response: Re-Evaluating the Teacher’s Voice in Commentary
Teacher Experience: Shifting from Written to Verbal Commentary
• Shift in Agency• Refocus on Student• Big Picture• Personalize Student Experience• Less Visually Intrusive
Teacher Experience: Benefits to Teachers
• Worries of Writing Better/Reading Better• Responses Natural and Exist Within the
Moment of Their Creation• Receiving and Returning Papers
Teacher Experience: Benefits to Teachers
Survey 1 Survey 2
Teacher 1 15-20 mins 10-15 mins
Teacher 2 10-15 mins 7-10 mins
Teacher 3 10-15 mins 10-15 mins
Teacher 4 20+ mins 15-20 mins
Teacher Time on Commentary
Teacher Experience: Other Teacher Feedback
“Oral feedback has changed the way that I comment. It is faster, more honest and positive, and my students really seem to like it.”
Teacher Experience: Considerations
“With the oral feedback it is critical to have
students test out the technology early in the
semester. It is also important to hold students
accountable for listening to the feedback. Having
students summarize my comments in a blog post
worked out well. These summaries helped me to
understand how students interpret and practice
my comments.”
The Student Perspective: Encouraging Student/Teacher Discussion
It feels more friendly and shows that the teacher actually cares
I am more inclined to respond and acknowledge verbal feedback.
You (the teacher) can
explain yourself
much more clearly
I feel like I get more information and more applicable information for rewriting
It allows me to feel more like I am talking to my professor.
I have more incentive to review my paper when I can hear the professor’s voice.
Student Experience: Student Feedback
You can discuss with us our writing wherever it is needed without cluttering the page.
It was a little difficult to remember what he said so I would take notes on his notes
It was far too time
consuming
I personally like when I give my teacher a hard copy and they hand write feedback
Helpful but wish it was easier to access the audio comments
Sometimes having to listen to the audio was a hassle to deal with
Student Experience: Student Feedback
I didn't like that we had to listen to it. I am a visual learner so it was difficult for one not being able to see it just having to listen to it
Student Experience: Student Feedback
Student Experience: Student Feedback
Student Experience: Student Feedback
Setting the Stage: The Next Phase of Feedback
Future Work: What the Study is Doing
Future Work: Where We Are Going
Future Work: What We Are Aiming For
Future Work: Additional Phases of the Study
• Using Already Collected Data:• Continue to Analyze Existing Data• Codify and Analyze Differences in Student
Revision Based on Verbal and Written Feedback
• Continue To Collect More Data From: • Additional Comp, ESL Comp, and Basic Writing
Classes
Future Work: Some Final Words
“It allows me to feel more like I am talking to my
professor rather than just my professor writes on my
paper. With verbal feedback I feel like I get more
information and more applicable information for
rewriting my paper.”
– Raleigh (Composition Student)
Tialitha MacklinPhD Candidate
Washington State University
http://timacklin.com/scholarship.html
Technological Dialogism: Using iAnnotate to Foster Conversational
Response to Student Essays