The Potential of Document Sharing for Scaffolding Writing Instruction
As the current focus of education is often on test scores rather than student learning, many public school teachers do not emphasize the development of cross-curricular writing skills in their curriculum. With the inherent pressures of standardized tests and growing class sizes, the burden of assessing writing projects often makes them prohibitive. However, recent research has shown that developing strong cross-curricular writing programs can not only support content knowledge but also raise standardized test scores. Web 2.0 document sharing technology can reduce teacher workload while providing more scaffolding and instruction than traditional writing assignments. Using these programs, instructors can implement collaborative writing projects that will allow students to learn as they write. This chapter uses pedagogical frameworks such as Balanced Literacy, Gradual Release of Responsibility, and Lev Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development to support the implementation of cloud software in public schools. It also outlines action research from a middle school classroom using cloud technology and makes practical suggestions for use of free software in secondary curriculum.