Comparing Enactments of a Collaborative Writing Activity in a Networked Language Learning Classroom

Abstract

Good learning activity designs do not guarantee effective classroom orchestration by the teacher. Enactments of the same learning activity design may vary greatly among different teachers. This study compares two teachers’ enactments of a collaborative learning activity in a L2 writing classroom supported by a networked technology called Group Scribbles (GS). Plausible factors of teacher’s moves and actions that impact the different enactments are identified and discussed, including articulating the objective of activity explicitly, providing improvised formative assessment and scaffolding to support students’ work on an ongoing basis, and controlling the tempo of the activity and maintaining students’ enthusiasm.