Writing-to-Learn
What
is Writing-to-Learn?
Generally, writing-to-learn
activities are short, impromptu or otherwise informal
writing tasks that help students think through key concepts
or ideas presented in a course. Often, these writing tasks
are limited to less than five minutes of class time or are
assigned as brief, out-of-class assignments.
Writing to learn differs from
other types of writing because it is not a process piece
that will go through multiple refinements toward an
intended final product. Instead, it is meant to be a
catalyst for further learning---an opportunity for students
to recall, clarify, and question what they know and what
they still wonder about. In other words, writing provides
students an opportunity to clarify their own thinking.
Writing also provides teachers an opportunity to gauge
students’ understanding of content. Writing to learn
“involves getting students to think about and to find the
words to explain what they are learning, how they
understand that learning, and what their own processes of
learning involve” (Mitchell, 1996, p. 93).
Check out the links below for more examples and
definitions:
The WAC Clearing
House
Take Flight - Writing to Learn