College of the Canyons -- Title III
The Institute of Teaching and Learning
Instructional Innovation Classroom Research Proposal Fall 2006
Title: Effects of E-peer Review on ESL Student Writing
Researcher: Heather Maclean
IN THE SPACE
BELOW, PRESENT A STATEMENT OF YOUR PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT
(APPROXIMATELY 500-1000 WORDS), INCLUDING A GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE
SCOPE AND NATURE OF YOUR PROJECT, THE DESIGN OR OUTLINE TO BE FOLLOWED.
DESCRIBE YOUR PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND TIMELINES.
The project seeks to investigate the effects of
anonymous e-peer review on student writing.
This project requires the following :
Pre-Study Set Up
One website for the study – each user will be anonymous so each needs a new
id.
Through discussion group threads feedback will be sought and given.
No more than 45 minutes should be spent by the reviewers on each feedback.
Students required: total of 40
Group A - 10 English 101 students as reviewers (thus collaboration
with English 101 instructor is necessary – reviewers need some form of
credit)
Group B - 10 ESL 100 students as reviewees
Group C - 10 ESL 100 students as reviewers
Group D - 10 ESL 080 students as reviewees
Group A will review Group B’s essays at three points in the semester
Group C will review Group D’s paragraphs at three points in the semester
Study – In August/early September
1. Meet with reviewers at each level and explain the process and their tasks
as reviewers. Explain how to use Website and give each new identities.
2. Meet with reviewees at each level and explain the process and what to
expect in terms of review. Explain how to use Website and give each a new
identity
3. Do a test run with small text
4. Assign feedback deadlines for September, October, and November
After September, October, and November collect work and feedback and break
it down into:
Grammar help (type of error, number of errors)
Content help (quality of what writer says, mode appropriacy)
Essay elements help (unity, coherence, structure)
Grade on submitted assignment – the post-feedback assignment
Post-study questionnaire of reviewers and reviewees
December – analyze, review, report
WHAT ARE THE
OBJECTIVES OF YOUR PROJECT? DESCRIBE THE RELEVANCE OF YOUR PROJECT TO
STUDENT LEARNING?
The objectives are determine some effects of
anonymous e-peer review on student writing.
The project is highly relevant to student learning for if writing does
indeed improve in this way, then their learning should always involve this.
WHAT EVALUATION
METHODOLOGY WILL YOU USE TO PROVIDE PROGRESS MEASURES FOR YOUR PROJECT?
INCLUDE A DESCRIPTION OF YOUR BENCHMARKS.
Analysis of the data will be qualitative
although some analysis of grades over the course of the study will also be
done. The content of the feedback will be examined and categorized.
The post-study questionnaires will add a personal analysis to the data.
WHAT TEACHING
STRATEGIES/LEARNING CONCEPTS/PEDAGOGICAL THEORIES/TECHNOLOGY SKILLS DID
YOU GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF THROUGH THE INTRIRUTE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING
COURSES THAT YOU WILL APPLY TO YOUR CLASSROOM RESEARCH?
Strategies in online learning plays a role in
this as the online environment makes it realistic for anonymous review to be
done in a timely and efficient way. The investigation here applies as much
to an online or hybrid course as it does to a face2face one.
Microteaching really promoted the analysis of hte learning environment and
this extends the enviornment beyond the classroom and gives students
additional roles and responsibilities beyond their own work. It invests
students in their peers' learning and they can see the value in that.
HOW MANY STUDENTS
(APPROXIMATELY) WILL PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH PROJECT? 30
WHAT DO YOU (AS
AN INSTRUCTOR) HOPE TO LEARN FROM YOUR RESEARCH? DESCRIBE ANY
INSTRUCTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OR IMPROVEMENT YOU HOPE TO GLEAN FROM THIS
PROJECT.
Ideally, the project will point to whether
anonymous review is what ESL students need and if it will break through
cultural and social barriers and norms brought from their own cultures.
ESL students hate doing peer review right now because they don't feel that
they have the right to comment on others' work - the anonymity factor might
help overcome this. This will in turn inform my teaching and,
hopefully, other instructors' teaching.
