A socio-cognitive approach to the development of EFL writing skills through a collaborative online discussion forum in a university course

GAVA, I. YAMINA Y DALLA COSTA, NATALIA

Argentinian Journal of Applied Linguistics

Federación Argentina de Asociaciones de Profesores de Inglés

Lugar: Córdoba; Año: 2018 vol. 6 p. 6 - 6

BLL (web-based language learning) projects are increasing steadily in blended and distance learning environments. Although experts believe that digital technologies can assist student writing, systematic evidence for this claim in university contexts is still scarce. This paper reports on a two-stage research project carried out by Dalla Costa and Gava (2016, 2017) aimed at analysing the impact of an online discussion forum (ODF) as a pre-writing activity on the students′ productions and perceptions. The study was carried out in the virtual classroom using the Moodle learning platform of an English Language II course at Facultad de Lenguas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (UNC), in which ICTs (information and communication technologies) are employed to promote a sociocognitive approach to the development of writing skills. The findings show that the cognitive and social opportunities afforded by ICTs seem to favour the collaborative construction of knowledge through online dialo