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Research
Learning To Write Survey Data
E-Learning Tools hired an outside evaluator for the 2004-2005 school to determine the effectiveness of Learning To Write to impact student achievement in a positive way. The data is being compiled at this time as the test scires return to the 18 districts that participated. To date, only one districts has confirmed their data and we are waiting for the other states to obtain their data.
In addition to the "hard data" eLearning Tools wanted additional teacher survey information in regards to the implementation of the software with students. Learning To Write's instructional design was guided by the work of Arthur W. Chickering and Stephen C. Erdman “ Implementing the Seven Principles: Technology as Lever. Their work outlined 7 Principles of Good Practice for instructional technologies. The 7 Principles are as follows:
- Good practices encourage contacts between students and faculty.
- Good practice develops reciprocity and cooperation among students
- Good practices uses active learning techniques
- Good practices gives prompt feedback
- Good practices emphasizes time on task
- Good practices communicates high expectations
- Good practice respects diverse talents and ways of learning
With these practices in mind, we developed a survey set of question for teachers who implementing the program in 2004-2005. Our hope was to determine if recommended principles of instructional design were recognized by the instructors. The following are the results that we learned from our instructors for the 2004-2005 school year.
- 61.1% of the teachers using the program had 16+ years of experience
- 55.5% of the teachers were using the program with 9th and 10th grade students. The rest reported using the program with "others."
- 52% reported that Learning To Write reduced their paper workload.
- 65% reported that their students wrote more essays using the LTW technology.
- 70% said the LTW technology enhanced their ability to facilitate small group learning.
- 78% said they were able to diversify classroom instruction to include students with different ability levels.
- 63% said that LTW features are closely aligned with curriculum and grade level expectations.
- 92% stated that their students were consistently challenged by LTW curriculum
- 86% shared that LTW provided an atmosphere where every student could succeed
- 54% used LTW as a key ingredient in their classroom and school improvement efforts
- 53% said LTW increased the number of opportunities to conference with students regarding their writing.
- 95.8% of the teachers implementing LTW would recommend the software to other English Instructors.