This document discusses online tools that can be used for teaching English as a second language writing, including wikis, Google Docs, chats, discussion boards, VoiceThread, blogs, vlogs, glogs, and mind maps. These tools allow for collaborative writing, synchronous and asynchronous discussion, and activities for self-discovery. Examples are provided for how these tools can be used for activities like peer editing, pre-writing, and exploring writing topics. Instructors are advised to consider their learning objectives, students' comfort with technology, and workload when choosing which tools to implement.

1. Success with Online Tools for
Teaching ESL Writing
Prepared and Presented by:
Faith Marcel, Copyright 2012
Niagara/Mohawk College

3. What are some of the tools?

4. 1. Collaborative Writing
2. Synchronous/Asynchronous
Discussion
3. Self-Discovery
4. Additional Writing Tools

5. Collaborative Writing Tools
Wikis
Google Docs

6. Wikis
Online editable document
Virtually limitless possibilities
for online writing tasks

7. A few of the uses…
• Collaborative process writing
• Pre-writing activities
• Peer review or correction exercises
• Error correction exercises for individual
revision practice
• Individual and peer revision

8. Collaborative Writing Activities
Write a Business Email

9. Peer Editing Activities
o Have peers edit emails individually or as a
group
o Use different colors for different groups
o You be the final editor!

10. Business Email Wiki

11. Google Docs
Create and share your work online
and access documents from
anywhere.
Collaborate in real-time from
anywhere in the world

12. Google suggests….

13. One example- Pre-writing Activity

14. Synchronous or Asynchronous
Discussion

15. Synchronous
Chat
Virtual Classrooms
Messaging

16. Some potential uses…
•Communicative practice of rhetorical structures
•Pre-writing idea generation
• Interviews and their transcription
• Collaborative problem solving

17. Live Chat
Live Chat

18. Asynchronous
Email
Discussion Boards
VoiceThread

19. VoiceThread
Asynchronous online discussion tool allowing for
conversation around various types of media
Source: http://voicethread.com/?#q+writing+esl.b129155.i685754

20. Source: http://voicethread.com/?
#q+poem+for+beginners.b156656.i844369

21. Tools for Self-Discovery
Blogs
Vlogs
Glogs
Mind-Maps

22. Blogs
• Capitalize on the use of topics which capture true
interests of learners
• Have students create a blog to which they
contribute throughout the term of an ESL course.
• Ideas page of teachers who have set up their
own blogs (More than 15 ideas and examples!):
http://www.topics-
mag.com/call/blogs/viewing_blogs.htm

23. Vlogs
• Introduce, reinforce or review writing topics
• Clarify or explain writing topics with examples

24. Glogs
Interactive multi-media poster
easily created and shared
Mix Images, Text, Music and Video.

25. A Couple of Glogs…

26. A Couple of Glogs…

27. Mind Maps

28. Mind-maps- graphic organizers

29. More Tools…

30. iTunesU

31. iTunesU

32. When choosing your tools…
• Consider your objectives/learning outcomes
• Consider your comfort/sts comfort with the technology
• Test first/ Check viewing in different browsers
• Consider your workload and follow-up marking

33. What are some of the ways you
can put these into practice?

34. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

35. References
• All photographs and vector graphics reproduced with
permission for educational purposes from iStockphoto.com
• Glogs found at www.glogster.com
• iTunesU screenshot from
http://www.apple.com/ca/education/itunes-u/whats-on.html
• Sample Mind Map created with Mindmeister
www.mindmeister.com
• Business English Pod screenshot from
http://www.businessenglishpod.com/

36. Acknowledgements
I would like to gratefully acknowledge the
support of:
Niagara College
David Atherton
Lynn Doherty
Brock University
Hedy McGarrell
Mohawk College
Patrice Palmer