 |
| | |
Online Center for Writing Instruction and ExchangeLaunching Summer 2008
|
| | |
| Updated July 22, 2008 (Markham, Ontario, Canada) -- Bytes of Learning Incorporated has announced it will release a new online writing instruction curriculum called Writing Rules! in Summer 2008. The title is correctly enunciated, Writing RULES! to reflect the rule-based nature of writing mechanics and the fact that writing proficiency is a very empowering skill to have. |
| |
| Many students do not receive complete instruction in composition or they do not develop basic writing fluency. So they find themselves in later school and college unable to write adequately. This is especially true among students who have recently learned to speak English. A lack of English writing skill is a major obstacle to academic and job advancement for many people. |
| |
| Writing Rules!™ first addresses writing basics such as capitalization, punctuation, noun pronoun agreement, subject verb agreement and other elements of composition that form the foundation for writing proficiency in school, college and the workplace. Two themes of instruction are offered: Younger students are treated to the video adventures of Captain Capitals who solves many communication problems as he voyages among the islands of letters and punctuation. More mature students receive video-animated lessons that highlight the writing basic and convey how each specific rule applies. |
| |
In the instructional portion, called the Workbook, students review the related video. Then they apply the new concepts in challenges that require them to edit short passages just like they do in real writing. The online software rapidly identifies writing problems relative to the writing skill that is under development. All student work is automatically recorded.
|
| |
| In the writing application portion, called the Journal, students respond to writing assignments provided by their teachers or they write self-initiated creations of their own. Work is submitted for teacher review by the click of a button. Teachers can easily review their students' work by logging in as a teacher, and providing grades and constructive comments for the budding writers. |
| |
| Writing Rules! features a powerful instructional management system that lets teachers create writing assignments for their students and exchange reviewed writing easily without having to print copies or send emails. The center operates entirely online, requiring no downloads. |
| |
Writing Rules! was first suggested by teachers who could not find an instructional solution that effectively teachers basic writing skills. Many programs exclusively aim to develop higher level writing skills or they approach lower level writing skills with a question-and-answer methodology. Experts agree that writing skill is learned through specific instruction and by writing a great deal in an authentic way, which is not the approach of most basic skill programs.
|
| |
Writing teachers know the task of teaching writing is a highly interactive human process. K-12 teachers, college teachers, and home schoolers will welcome Writing Rules! because it has a very easy-to-use exchange system that lets students and teachers write, review and rewrite without the usual encumbrances of paper and email. Writing Rules! saves every stage of a writing document and its reviews right online, so the evolution of a piece can be examined with ease. Writing Rules! takes the drudgery out of the process and helps in all the mechanical ways that makes teaching writing and learning to write an easier task.
|
| |
| Bytes of Learning has correlated the writing curriculums of major states and provinces to determine the scope and sequence of the Writing Rules! curriculum. However, rather than provide a single curriculum for everybody, individuals and schools will eventually have the choice of content and curriculum they need and which is culturally appropriate. Bytes of Learning is designing this flexibility into the software and will invite users to help direct new content elements and options. |
| |
| The upcoming release will not contain all the content Bytes of Learning plans to include nor will it have the full flexibility the company plans. Following first release, Bytes of Learning plans to extend the content of Writing Rules! indefinitely as teachers and users provide their suggestions. Even this first release has been presented to many teacher audiences and revised as a result. |
| |
Bytes of Learning is an educational software technology producer and publisher based in Markham, Ontario. The company was founded in 1984 with an expressed purpose of combining the best in technology with the best in educational approaches. For additional information, visit: www.bytesoflearning.com
|
| |
| Download a PDF copy of the press release. |
