Writing hypertext: Learning and transfer effects

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Writing hypertext Learning and transfer effects

• Martine Braaksma Gert Rijlaarsdam
• University of Amsterdam
• the Netherlands
• IAIMTE, 11-13 May 2005

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Some questions

• What is hypertext?
• Hypertext writing with students?
• Hypertext writing in school stress or benefit?

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Hypertext

• Conceptualized by Vannevar Bush (1945).
  Information is organized as a network in which
  nodes are text chunks and links are relationships
  between the nodes.

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Writing hypertexts

• Could have positive effects on writing skills
• Could have positive effects on content knowledge

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Questions

• Does hypertext writing have positive effects on
  writing skills?
• Same writing processes as in linear writing?
• Does hypertext writing contribute to text quality
  (hypertext and linear text)?

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Our study

• Focus on most central, distinctive features
• Linear writing linearization process
• Hypertext writing hierarchicalization process
• 123 students, 8th and 9th grade
• Two linearization and hierarchicalization tasks
  while thinking aloud
• Measurement of text quality of both tasks

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Tasks

• Hierarchicalization task
• Decomposing text into a hierarchical scheme
• Linearization task
• Composing text from a hierarchical scheme

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Text and hierarchical scheme

• The dollar is considerably below the euro, thus
  the dollar has a favorable exchange rate. Also on
  the moment, the tickets are very inexpensive. And
  the climate is also very nice, the temperature is
  approximately 20 degrees and there is hardly
  rain. In short, we really should go to the United
  States of America.
• (1) Go to the USA
• (1.1) Exchange rate (1.2) Tickets (1.3)
  Climate
• (1.1.1) Below euro (1.3.1) Temperature.. (1.3.2)
  Rain

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Coding of writing processes

• Goal-orientation
• Planning
• Analysis
• Formulating
• Writing
• Evaluation
• Re-reading

• Meta-analysis
• Pausing

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Protocol hierarchicalization task

• The dollar is considerably below the two
  guilders, thus the dollar has a favourable
  exchange rate. Also on the moment, the tickets
  are very inexpensive. And the climate is also
  very nice, the temperature is approximately 20
  degrees and there is hardly rain. In short, we
  really should go to the United States of America
  Reads text
• Uhm, standpoint is Analyses standpoint
• That we should go to the United States of America
  Formulates standpoint
• Uhm, thus a couple of pro arguments Analyses
  arguments
• The dollar has a favourable exchange rate
  Formulates argument

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Continuation protocol

• The climate is also very nice Formulates
  argument
• The tickets are very inexpensive Formulates
  argument
• And then two subordinate arguments Plans
  subordinate arguments
• The dollar is considerably below the two guilders
  Analyses subordinate argument
• The temperature is approximately 20 degrees and
  there is hardly rain Analyses subordinate
  arguments
• Thus, the standpoint Plans standpoint
• We should go to the United States of America
  Formulates standpoint while writing

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Results writing processes

• Same writing processes, but
• Linearization more Writing Re-reading
• Hierarchicalization more Goal-orientation,
  Planning, Analysis Meta-analysis

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Linear writing and quality of linear text

• Formulating negative effect
• Analysis positive effect
• Effect is stable across time

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Hypertext writing and quality of hypertext

• Planning Analysis positive effect
• Effect is stable across time

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Hypertext writing and quality of linear text

• Transfer effect
• Planning Analysis positive effect
• Effect is stable across time

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Conclusions

• Same writing processes as in linear writing? Yes,
  but more Planning Analysis
• Does hypertext writing contribute to text quality
  (hypertext and linear text)? Yes, more Planning
  Analysis in hypertext writing better hypertexts
  and linear texts.
• Does hypertext writing have positive effects on
  writing skills? YES!

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Future

• Effects from real hypertext writing on
• Writing skills
• Content knowledge
• Teaching hypertext writing, based on writing from
  sources, different topics
• In regular lessons, in cooperation with mother
  tongue teachers
• Effects from observational learning on hypertext
  writing