Title of article :
Asynchronous Online Discussion Forum: A Key to Enhancing Students’ Writing Ability and Attitudes in Iran
Author/Authors :
Jabbari, Ali Akbar Yazd University, Yazd, Iran , Mohammadi, Mohammad Omid Yazd University, Yazd, Iran , Fazilatfar, Ali Mohammad Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Abstract :
This paper focuses on the impact of an asynchronous online discussion
forum on the development of students‟ ability in and attitudes toward writing
in English. Two groups of third-year students (N = 60) majoring in English
were assigned to two treatment and control groups, each receiving different
types of feedback. Students in the treatment group were required to participate
in an online learning environment and exchange feedback with their peers,
whereas students in the control group received the traditional face-to-face
feedback provided by the teacher. The results of a pre-test, a post-test, and a
survey revealed that students‟ writing in the treatment group significantly
improved, both semantically and syntactically, and they expressed more
positive attitudes toward writing. The findings also indicated that as a result of
engaging in the asynchronous online discussion forum and exchanging
feedback with peers, students exhibited more control over their work,
involved more effectively with the learning tasks, collaborated more with
their classmates, and employed self-assessment strategies to independently
revise or rewrite their work. The implications of the study offer guidelines to
improve and facilitate writing skill in EFL contexts.
Keywords :
Feedback provision , L2 writing in Iran , EFL teaching writing , Asynchronous online discussion forum
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics