Engaging students in writing

Online blogs versus conventional paper – insights and considerations

Abstract

This research paper explores the difference between conventional composition writing and writing of composition on online blogs by 224, 6 classes of Grade 5 students in an elementary-level future school in Singapore. Students in this study are savvy information communication technology (ICT) users who have been exposed to one-to-one computing since Grade 1. A total of 4 written assignments were given to the students – two conventional paper and pencil and two online blogs written assignments. No significant difference was found in students’ scores on the four written assignments and their penmanship. The submission rate for the conventional paper and pencil composition written assignments was 93.75% as compared to 75% for the online blogs entries. Although interviews with teachers seem to suggest that the ICT mode could facilitate the learning of higher-order type of learning, the significantly lower submission rate for the online blogs is of concern and interest.