Fresno State students get high-tech writing help


More than 140 Fresno State professors are trying out a computer tool that taps into video-game competitiveness to improve student writing, reports the Fresno Bee. Those professors and close to 7,000 students are part of a pilot project using a web-based evaluation program. Students submit essays electronically and get near-instant scores and notes on grammar, mechanics, organization, and more. The program highlights errors—a run-on sentence, a misspelled word—but students correct the mistakes. Faculty members also can offer comments, and students can revise and resubmit essays for better marks. “I have some students treating it like a video game: ‘I can get a higher score on this,’” said Kim Morin, a professor in the theater arts department who brought the program—ETS Criterion—to campus. The project is part of a larger effort to boost student writing, a skill lacking in many new freshmen. Averaging close to 100 students in an online class, Morin wanted more time to focus on the content of essays. She settled on Criterion after sorting through several other similar programs, including SAGrader and Intelligent Essay Assessor. Some weren’t a good fit, and others were too expensive, Morin said. With Criterion, there is no cost to the university. Each student pays about $15 per semester for access to the system…

Click here for the full story

Sign up for our K-12 newsletter

Newsletter: Innovations in K12 Education
By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Want to share a great resource? Let us know at submissions@eschoolmedia.com.

New AI Resource Center
Get the latest updates and insights on AI in education to keep you and your students current.
Get Free Access Today!

"*" indicates required fields

Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Hidden
Email Newsletters:

By submitting your information, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.

eSchool News uses cookies to improve your experience. Visit our Privacy Policy for more information.