Pupils Writing for the Internet. Online Essays and Virtual Classrooms as Motivating Factors.

Author: Morawietz, Holger
Published: Pfaffenhofen, 1999
Source: Realschule in Deutschland, H. 5 (1999).
Publisher: Druckerei Humbach & Nemazal GmbH

Abstract

"How can the motivation to write and the quality of what is written be developed?" This is a problem facing almost any and every teacher, whatever subject they teach. Initial solutions are offered by new theories in education which advocate giving pupils the greatest possible freedom when writing texts. Using the school equipment to print what they have produced gives their work extra importance. Writing texts on computers has led to an improvement in the quality of the products. The following suggestions and examples show how the Internet can substantially improve text writing in a number of ways: through making essays accessible worldwide, and through co-operation between schools from different countries and continents in virtual classrooms. This text is also available in French and German.

Morawietz, Holger

Holger Morawietz lectures in pedagogy at the University of Vechta in Northern Germany. He is also director of the university's centre of audiovisual media.

Publications: "Pyramiden und Königsgräber im Internet" (2003), "Lernen zum Anfassen. Experimente mit Lern- und Gedächtnismodellen" (2003), "Lust und Frust beim Arbeiten mit Computer und Internet" (2003).