The Impact of Virtual Writing Tutor on Writing Skills and Attitudes of Omani College Students

The present study aimed to examine the impact of Virtual Writing Tutor (VWT) software on the academic writing skills of Year 1 Omani EFL students in the College of Applied Science, (CAS)-Sohar and their attitudes towards using VWT software to enhance their academic writing skills. The sample consisted of 35 students in the control group and 35 in the experimental group (Total N= 70) who were enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes (ENAP1002) course at CAS-Sohar. The data collection tools included pre-test and post-test for the two groups, and attitude scale for the experimental group. The findings of the study showed a positive large effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.88) of VWT on writing skills. In addition, Year 1 students in the experimental group enjoyed using the VWT software and found it beneficial and helpful in checking the accuracy of their essays including spelling, punctuation, grammar and vocabulary. In light of the research findings, implications and recommendations for future research were outlined.

The Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (in prison): Using the frames to teach incarcerated students

As a sophomore at Goucher College—with a growing awareness of the connections between race, class, education, and incarceration in the United States—I decided to volunteer as a writing tutor with the Goucher Prison Education Partnership (GPEP). GPEP “provides men and women incarcerated in Maryland with the opportunity to pursue an excellent college education” in classes where “students are held to the rigorous academic standards for which Goucher is known.”

Características de las tutorías del Centro de Lectura y Escritura de la Universidad Autónoma de Occidente: ¿Qué muestran los registros de atención?

ResumenEn el presente artículo se socializan los principales hallazgos de una investigación que se adelantó en el primer semestre del 2015 para analizar las características de las tutorías llevadas a cabo en el Centro de Lectura y Escritura de la Universidad Autónoma de Occidente, con base en la revisión de los registros escritos de atención de los tutores. Entre los principales resultados, se evidencia que existen diferentes percepciones de la tutoría, que van desde las visiones remediales hasta las que se ocupan de fomentar el desarrollo de estrategias por parte de los asesorados.Palabras clave: Centro de escritura, clases de tutoría, estrategias de asesoría, tutor de escritura, registros de atención, tutorados. ***************************************************************************Characteristics of tutorial sessions at Centro de Lectura y Escritura de la Universidad Autonoma de Occidente: What do the attention records show?Abstract:The current paper aims at socializing the main findings of a piece of research carried out in the first semester of 2015 with the purpose of analyzing the characteristics of the tutorial sessions held at Centro de Lectura y Escritura de la Universidad Autonoma de Occidente based on the perusal of the written records regarding tutors’ attention. Among the main findings, it is evidenced that there are different perceptions of tutorial sessions, which go from remedial instances to those of enhancing the development of strategies in the tutees.Key words: writing center, tutorial sessions, tutorial strategies, writing tutor, attention records, tutees*****************************************************************************Características das tutorias dos centros de Leitura e Escrita na Universidade Autônoma de Ocidente: o que mostram os registros de atenção?ResumoNo presente artigo são socializados os principais achados de uma pesquisa que foi realizada no primeiro semestre de 2015 para analisar as características das tutorias levadas a cabo no Centro de Leitura e Escrita da Universidade Autônoma de Ocidente, com base na revisão dos registros escritos de atenção dos tutores. Entre os principais resultados se evidencia que existem diferentes percepções da tutoria, que vão das visões remediais até as que se ocupam de fomentar o desenvolvimento de estratégias por parte dos assessorados. Palavras chave: Centros de escrita, aulas de tutoria, estratégias de assessoria, tutor de escrita, registros de atenção, tutorados.