Use Of A Writing Web-Site By Pre-Masters Students On An English for Academic Purposes Course.

A. J. Gillett, University of Hertfordshire

Introduction

¹During the past 10 years, the availability of computers in educational institutions has increased dramatically (James, 1999). ²Progress in computer development has been made to the point that powerful, inexpensive computers with large capacities are available in many classrooms and libraries for student use. ³Many students also have purchased and are purchasing computers for their own use at home. ⁴Most studies seem to agree that the microcomputer will continue to hold an important role in education in the future. ⁵For example, James (1999) and Smith (2000) suggest large increases in the numbers of computers both in educational institutions and the home in the near future. ⁶As far as education is concerned, Shaw (2001) identified three main uses of computers: the object of a course, an administrative tool, and a means of providing instruction. ⁷Fish and Cheam (2002) cite four uses of computers as a means of providing instruction: exercise, tutorial, simulation and problem solving. ⁸A wide range of computer programmes are now therefore available in all these areas for individual and classroom use.

⁹However, even though many studies have reported an increased use of computers in education, there has been very little research reported on the effectiveness of such use. ¹⁰The purpose of the present study is therefore to ascertain the effectiveness of using computer-assisted instruction as compared to traditional classroom instruction in an EAP writing class.