Research, Interdisciplinary Studies, and CollaborationBy Micah and Chelsea

Research QuestionsWhat procedures of teaching and learning composition are the most effective?Of what does skill in writing really consist?

What We KnowTask-oriented, student-led small group discussions can result in improved writing. Practicing strategies orally in small groups enables students to apply them independently in their writing in new situations.

But Why?What happens in group discussion?What about prior knowledge?How are strategies used in the composing process?

Addressing These Questions

According to Hillocks, “The key questions are located in a variety of fields of inquiry…In short, a serious program of research on teaching composition will require multi-disciplinary approaches.”

Conflicting IdeologiesReason and experience (qualitative)Scientific experimentation with statistical evidence (quantitative)

Collaboration of Ideologies

Use both research methods to produce the best resultsDon’t place restrictions on researchers“Those researchers who are most productive use a variety of methods”

Modes of InstructionEnvironmentalPresentationalModelsInquiry

ActivityScenario 1: Experienced fire fighters are called to fight a dangerous oil fire at sea. They have sufficient training and experience. Are these people courageous?Scenario 2: A secret service agent sees a gun aimed at the president. He jumps in the line of fire and takes the bullet. Was this agent courageous? Scenario 3: Joe comes from a military family. He had no interest in joining, but he was afraid his family would disown him. He joined and volunteered to fight in Vietnam. Is he courageous?

ResultsWhen students work in small groups devising criteria, they can later do so independently, even when working with new materialWhen students problem solve in groups, they can use the same strategies independently in new situations

QuestionsDid those in the groups find they were able to quickly come to a consensus or was there too much disagreement?Did those who worked independently find it easy or hard to come to a conclusion? Were you tempted to talk to others?From past experience working in small groups, what method do you personally find more effective in the learning process?Do you agree or disagree with the idea that students are better able to work on their own to solve problems after working in small groups?