Marcela

Zhu, C. (2012). Students satisfaction, performance, and knowledge construction in online collaborative learning. //Educational Technology// //& Society 15//(1), pp. 127-136.

When learning by interactive technologies, it becomes easier if students focus on learning in group settings or in computer supported collaborative learning settings (CSCL). This study indicates that students get involved more easily in the learning process among group members in CSCL environments compared to face-to-face sessions. This investigation of students satisfaction, performance, and knowledge construction through online collaboration took place in two different settings: a Flemish university and a Chinese university. The student groups of educational sciences were in a similar age range and knowledge background and they were divided into groups of six members. Students got prepared on how to use the e-learning system, how to participate in group discussions, and how to create wiki documents and pages. Significant differences appeared between Chinese and Flemish students regarding their satisfaction and dissatisfaction related to online collaborative learning. The results at the end of the investigation show that both Chinese and Flemish students were able to work at their own pace, and it helped them to gain more knowledge than if they would have studied alone. This study shares that cultural differences do not influence at all in students satisfaction and academic achievement in an innovative e-learning environments due to online learning systems can enrich students´ collaborative learning activities and their knowledge construction via group interaction.

Nowadays, teaching methods have been changing because of the technological advances; teachers take advantage of these technological tools in order to get the students attention. Currently, the classes are not conventional; instead, most of them are not face-to-face workshops. For that reason, CSCL is the way to work in order to get a meaningful learning; moreover, when teachers implement collaborative learning using these systems, students get involved in the learning process more easily. As a student, I know that technology makes easier our academic life, so I prefer to take part in CSCL because I challenge myself to be updated taking abot learning strategies. According to Zhu (2012) collaborative learning is a social interaction where members acquire and share experiences or knowledge. In my personal experience, collaborative learning using online learning setting becomes easier using online group discussions because everyone can share their ideas without being limited.

Muñoz, A. & Álvarez, M.(2008). A study of the effect of a writing assesment system on instruction. //Mextesol Journal 32//(2). pp. 55-70.

The writing process becomes a complex skill to develop for students; as the same way, the writing instruction for teachers tend to be complicated. The use of an effective system facilitates the instruction for teachers when teaching writing. This system was previously proven by applying some assessments to teachers in order to detect the weaknesses when teaching writiing. This study was carried out by giving some training sessions to teachers from an English program in Colmbia about how to follow the appropriate writing approach.Later on, some students took some writing classes in which the knowledge acquired was implemented. At the end of the research the teachers realized the importance of motivating students to write and they also viewed the effectiveness of the system´s implementation to refine assessments practices.What is evident when implementing these kind of programs is that communication, a constant training, and teachers´participation become essential to ovecome challenges.

The key to be successful when writing comes from a constant effort and an appropriate input. According to Muñoz & Álvarez (2008) when teachers have the required language proficiency, there is not much problem if they have to follow a system for writing instruction. Writing is a productive skill; therefore, students need guidance to improve it. In order to guide in an appropriate way, teachers follow effective systems related to improve when writing. I as a future teacher consider that having tools and the knowledge to apply them in order to make the teaching process easier__.__ Even as a student, I know that when I have a guide, the writing process and following guidelines get successful results. However, the teaching training is a constant process as the learning process.