Students are usually not very enthusiastic when it comes to writing assignments. They say these tasks are isolated and tedious. So, educators must continuously invent new approaches to motivate students to write. Collaborative writing is a strategy that brings excellent results. It turns the writing process into a dynamic, social, and interactive activity. The main thing is to organize it correctly. What are the advantages of this writing format and what techniques work best? Let’s find out!
Benefits of collaborative writing
What is collaborative writing? It’s when two or more people work together to create an essay or other written piece. They share ideas, draft, and edit as a team. Such an approach awakens creativity, encourages communication, and allows participants to learn from each other.
- Enjoyable process. Writing with classmates is engaging and often does not feel like a task. It encourages discussion, keeps students involved, and makes writing fun.
- Development of critical thinking. Cooperation with others makes students think, give feedback, and improve their skills. Plus, it brings in different perspectives and enriches writing outcomes.
- Teamwork. The process teaches participants to work in a team. They improve communication and problem-solving skills that they will need in the future. It also builds confidence and makes writing less intimidating.
Best collaborative writing techniques
Various learning environments may require different techniques. Here are a few ideas that help boost participation and creativity.
Group brainstorming
It’s where the process starts. Before students begin writing, they can generate ideas and make outlines together. It allows them to find key points of the topic and build a strong foundation for their writing. Teachers can simplify the brainstorming stage – use mind mapping, discussion prompts and digital collaboration tools. Group work helps students come up with more ideas and everyone gets a chance to contribute, even those who may be shy to share on their own.
Joint essay writing projects
One essay may have several authors – students can complete different sections of the same piece. Teachers can give each student a role. Everyone can become a researcher, writer, or editor. Google Docs enable students to work on the same document at the same time, give feedback, and make changes instantly. This way, they learn teamwork and editing skills and create strong essays at the same time.
Peer review and feedback sessions
During these sessions, students check each other’s work and give feedback. This helps both the writer improve their work and the reviewer sharpen their thinking skills. Students learn to spot common mistakes and improve their writing. However, teachers must equip them with guidelines to keep feedback useful and positive. This process enhances writing skills and builds confidence and a sense of collaboration among students.
Multi-stage writing projects
Writing tasks can be treated like serious projects. Break down the assignment into smaller steps – research, draft, revision, and approval. Students will have to devote special attention to each stage. This method lets them think more carefully and improve their ideas over time. In group work, students can split these tasks, so everyone helps and the work is shared evenly. Teachers should check in at each stage to see how things are going and offer support when necessary.
Cross-classroom collaborations
Collaborative writing can extend beyond a single classroom . It’s possible to involve students from different schools or even different countries. It’s great for cultural exchange and testing diverse writing styles. Platforms like ePals or collaborative blogging projects enable students to work together on shared assignments. They can even work with experts – paper writing with PaperHelp encourages students to write for a broader audience and adapt their writing to different contexts.
How to assess collaborative writing
It’s vital to balance individual progress with group achievement.
- Rubrics. Develop simple guidelines that explain how individual and group contributions will be graded.
- Individual contributions. Check what each student did and how much they helped with the project.
- Group dynamics. Pay attention to how students work together and solve any problems that come up.
- Final result. Look at how good, creative, and clear the finished work is.
- Self and peer assessments. Students also should have a chance to evaluate their own work and give feedback on their teammates’ work.
Helpful tools
Don’t ignore the tools that may help you organize the process:
- Google Docs lets everyone work together in real-time.
- Microsoft Office 365 offers great teamwork possibilities.
- Online whiteboards (Miro, Jamboard) are great for ideas exchange.
- Communication platforms (Slack, Discord) make it easy to talk and share files.
Summing up
Collaborative writing is something new you do in class, but it’s also a powerful way to learn. Different techniques together with technology help students overcome their writer’s block. This approach makes writing fun. So, it’s time to move away from the old ways and let students write with joy!
