Write on Time by Kristen Kennedy

Technology and Learning November 2006 Review article

To become a good writer in any setting it takes practice, feedback, and being a good reader. Kristen Kennedy reviewed three different writing programs (WriteToLearn, Vantage Learning’s MyAcess! And Criterion) and wrote about it in the November 2006 issue of Technology and Learning. Kennedy explains that these three new software programs steer away from anticipated red pen marks made by teachers by using tutorials and having a revise, and resubmit format. However, I would think that this is true when writing without the use of the software, except the red pen. The programs offer assessment tools for the teacher to narrow down what ideas and areas the class as whole needs to focus on as well as the individual student. These programs also provide access for the student to view their own assessment process.
WriteToLearn, allows students to focuse on reading comprehension and summarizing skills. Some benefits of this program are its variety of essays to choose from, tutorials, and revision through multiple choice. The drawbacks of this program are spelling errors are weighted heavily, revision editing on your own is very limited and assessment scorecards are difficult to understand. Another program that Kennedy reviewed was Vantage Learning My Access! seems to be more accurate with grading and errors. When Kennedy submitted a student’s essay the program picked up errors but also acknowledge how well written the piece was and grading was emphasized more on style, organization skills than spelling and grammar. ETS Criterion was rated by kennedy as being easy to use and very similar to Access! With all three of these programs it can put a new angle of learning for learners who are focusing on writing skills in class. However , it can also be seen as frustrating for students with the little mishaps that all three programs still have. I feel it is a good idea for schools to use, because a student being able to see their own assessment is a really beneficial especially in the writing process. I hope to see these programs to become more sophisticated.

Kennedy, Kristen (2006). Write on Time. Technology and Learning. December 2, 2006. http://www.techlearning.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193700228