Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners

In seeking to support diversity, one challenge lies in adequately supporting and assessing science cognitions in a writing-intensive Biochemistry laboratory course when highly engaged Asian English language learners (Asian ELLs) struggle to communicate and make novice errors in English. Because they...

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Autores principales:	Beverly L. Smith-Keiling, Lidia K. Swanson, Joanne M. Dehnbostel
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	American Society for Microbiology 2018
Materias:	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/319bc85e9dd344599ca40559685901cc
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:319bc85e9dd344599ca40559685901cc2021-11-15T15:04:53ZInterventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.15221935-78851935-7877https://doaj.org/article/319bc85e9dd344599ca40559685901cc2018-03-01T00:00:00Zhttps://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.v19i1.1522https://doaj.org/toc/1935-7877https://doaj.org/toc/1935-7885In seeking to support diversity, one challenge lies in adequately supporting and assessing science cognitions in a writing-intensive Biochemistry laboratory course when highly engaged Asian English language learners (Asian ELLs) struggle to communicate and make novice errors in English. Because they may understand advanced science concepts, but are not being adequately assessed for their deeper scientific understanding, we sought and examined interventions. We hypothesized that inquiry strategies, scaffolded learning through peer evaluation, and individualized tools that build writing communication skills would increase confidence. To assess scientific thinking, Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) software measured underlying analytic and cognitive features of writing despite grammatical errors. To determine whether interventions improved student experience or learning outcomes, we investigated a cross-sectional sample of cases within experimental groups (n = 19) using a mixed-methods approach. Overall trends of paired t-tests from Asian ELLs’ pre/post surveys showed gains in six measures of writing confidence, with some statistically significant gains in confidence in writing skill (p=0.025) and in theory (p≤0.05). LIWC scores for Asian ELL and native-English-speaking students were comparable except for increased cognitive scores for Asian ELLs and detectable individual differences. An increase in Asian ELLs’ cognitive scores in spring/summer over fall was observed (p = 0.04), likely as a result of greater cognitive processes with language use, inquiry-related interventions, and peer evaluation. Individual cases further elucidated challenges faced by Asian ELL students. LIWC scores of student writing may be useful in determining underlying understanding. Interventions designed to provide support and strengthen the writing of Asian ELL students may also improve their confidence in writing, even if improvement is gradual.Beverly L. Smith-KeilingLidia K. SwansonJoanne M. DehnbostelAmerican Society for MicrobiologyarticleSpecial aspects of educationLC8-6691Biology (General)QH301-705.5ENJournal of Microbiology & Biology Education, Vol 19, Iss 1 (2018)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5
spellingShingle	Special aspects of education LC8-6691 Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Beverly L. Smith-Keiling Lidia K. Swanson Joanne M. Dehnbostel Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners
description	In seeking to support diversity, one challenge lies in adequately supporting and assessing science cognitions in a writing-intensive Biochemistry laboratory course when highly engaged Asian English language learners (Asian ELLs) struggle to communicate and make novice errors in English. Because they may understand advanced science concepts, but are not being adequately assessed for their deeper scientific understanding, we sought and examined interventions. We hypothesized that inquiry strategies, scaffolded learning through peer evaluation, and individualized tools that build writing communication skills would increase confidence. To assess scientific thinking, Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC) software measured underlying analytic and cognitive features of writing despite grammatical errors. To determine whether interventions improved student experience or learning outcomes, we investigated a cross-sectional sample of cases within experimental groups (n = 19) using a mixed-methods approach. Overall trends of paired t-tests from Asian ELLs’ pre/post surveys showed gains in six measures of writing confidence, with some statistically significant gains in confidence in writing skill (p=0.025) and in theory (p≤0.05). LIWC scores for Asian ELL and native-English-speaking students were comparable except for increased cognitive scores for Asian ELLs and detectable individual differences. An increase in Asian ELLs’ cognitive scores in spring/summer over fall was observed (p = 0.04), likely as a result of greater cognitive processes with language use, inquiry-related interventions, and peer evaluation. Individual cases further elucidated challenges faced by Asian ELL students. LIWC scores of student writing may be useful in determining underlying understanding. Interventions designed to provide support and strengthen the writing of Asian ELL students may also improve their confidence in writing, even if improvement is gradual.
format	article
author	Beverly L. Smith-Keiling Lidia K. Swanson Joanne M. Dehnbostel
author_facet	Beverly L. Smith-Keiling Lidia K. Swanson Joanne M. Dehnbostel
author_sort	Beverly L. Smith-Keiling
title	Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners
title_short	Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners
title_full	Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners
title_fullStr	Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners
title_full_unstemmed	Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners
title_sort	interventions for supporting and assessing science writing communication: cases of asian english language learners
publisher	American Society for Microbiology
publishDate	2018
url	https://doaj.org/article/319bc85e9dd344599ca40559685901cc
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Interventions for Supporting and Assessing Science Writing Communication: Cases of Asian English Language Learners

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