AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS

Hilal Yildiz; S. Ipek Kuru Gonen

doi:10.17718/tojde.1169727

EN

AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS

Abstract

It is imperative to use new technologies in a supportive manner to meet the learners’ and teachers’ demanding needs as educational environments change in the digital age. The continuous expansion of online learning and distance education opportunities responds to the demands of learners and teachers while pioneering the use of technology in education. One advancement in English language teaching and learning in online environments, which assists teachers in reducing their workload and providing students with instant digital feedback, is the automated writing evaluation (AWE) tools. To gain a deeper understanding of the potential and limitations of these digital tools, this study aims to investigate the effectiveness of AWE feedback in error reduction in writing in English and the explore views of students regarding the utility of AWE tools. For this purpose, a total of 38 students at a university in Turkiye participated in the study, and three of their essays were evaluated. Within a concurrent triangulation mixed-method design, the changes in errors of the experimental group (n=18) receiving AWE feedback, and the control group (n=20) receiving teacher feedback were analyzed quantitatively, and the written reflection reports and semi-structured interviews conducted with the students were analyzed qualitatively. The results indicated that teacher feedback and AWE feedback were both effective in reducing errors in 11 categories. AWE feedback appeared to minimize errors in mechanics and usage more efficiently and teacher feedback was required more in content and organization issues. As a result, AWE was found as a complementary and effective tool supporting the improvement of target language writing skills saving time and energy for teachers. Furthermore, students expressed positive views regarding the use of AWE despite minor limitations. The findings of this study in general sheds light on using online digital tools of ubiquitous nature such as AWE to assist language improvement outside the class.

Keywords

Automated Writing Evaluation system for feedback, Online learning in L2 writing, online feedback in L2 writing, L2 writing evaluation in the distance learning environment, Students’ views on digital writing evaluation tool

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Lifelong learning

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Hilal Yildiz
0000-0001-8706-3546
Türkiye

S. Ipek Kuru Gonen ^*
0000-0002-7374-8269
Türkiye

Publication Date

July 1, 2024

Submission Date

September 1, 2022

Acceptance Date

March 6, 2023

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Volume: 25 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1169727

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA58FD34CK

APA

Yildiz, H., & Kuru Gonen, S. I. (2024). AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 25(3), 183-206. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1169727

AMA

1.Yildiz H, Kuru Gonen SI. AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS. TOJDE. 2024;25(3):183-206. doi:10.17718/tojde.1169727

Chicago

Yildiz, Hilal, and S. Ipek Kuru Gonen. 2024. “AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS”. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 25 (3): 183-206. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1169727.

EndNote

Yildiz H, Kuru Gonen SI (July 1, 2024) AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 25 3 183–206.

IEEE

[1]H. Yildiz and S. I. Kuru Gonen, “AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS”, TOJDE, vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 183–206, July 2024, doi: 10.17718/tojde.1169727.

ISNAD

Yildiz, Hilal - Kuru Gonen, S. Ipek. “AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS”. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education 25/3 (July 1, 2024): 183-206. https://doi.org/10.17718/tojde.1169727.

JAMA

1.Yildiz H, Kuru Gonen SI. AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS. TOJDE. 2024;25:183–206.

MLA

Yildiz, Hilal, and S. Ipek Kuru Gonen. “AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS”. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, vol. 25, no. 3, July 2024, pp. 183-06, doi:10.17718/tojde.1169727.

Vancouver

1.Hilal Yildiz, S. Ipek Kuru Gonen. AUTOMATED WRITING EVALUATION SYSTEM FOR FEEDBACK IN THE DIGITAL WORLD: AN ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDENTS. TOJDE. 2024 Jul. 1;25(3):183-206. doi:10.17718/tojde.1169727

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