Writing Software

Writing Software :
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Writing Software

Daedalus

DIWE, or the Daedalus Integrated Writing Environment, was developed by writing teachers for writing teachers and is used with students at hundreds of schools, ranging from middle schools to four-year universities.

The software is an integrated package of writing/thinking tools designed with the classroom in mind. The program focuses on teaching and learning by means of (often-interactive) written discourse -- encouraging collaborative work, critical thinking skills and communication. These six modules comprise Daedalus, each designed to address a specific task or stage of producing a piece of writing:

These are the basic functions available within the application:

Invent stimulates writers to explore their topics and to think creatively. The tools allow writers to save and print out the text to help them generate first drafts. Teachers can compose their own Invent questions to supplement the twelve standard sets that come with the software.

Write is a streamlined word processor which allows you to teach writing, not word-processing. It includes all basic operations (copying, pasting, spell-checking, printing) for writers to produce and revise drafts.

Respond allows writers to call up drafts and other documents for on-line analysis and review. Writers can save and print their text to use as they work on other assignments. Prompts can be modified to suit the assignment, ranging from peer review to document analysis.

Mail acts as the central switchboard for class communications from private mail to group work. Date, time and receipt stamps make it an effective class management tool.

InterChange enables synchronous or "real-time" discussions for whole classes or small groups. Transcripts of these discussions are recorded and are available for viewing and printing.

BiblioCite prompts writers to record bibliographic entries athem in a database of sources. It generates a Works Cited page in MLA style or a References Page in APA style.

In addition to these six modules, DIWE includes class and document management tools.
These simple commands allow students to login to a class, to turn in drafts for peer review or collaboration and to read the papers and drafts of others in their class. DIWE, then, is an integrated program consisting of six writing tools and simple commands for class and document management.

Our current license for Daedalus limits us to use in the LRC on the Macintosh computers. It may also become available in the ESL/FL lab. If you have a Macintosh computer in your office, however, it is accessible to you from there, so that you may leave assignments for your students to access in the LRC. You may also build assignments, e.g. Prompt manager which lets you design heuristics of your own to walk students through a set of questions designed to help them achieve the goals of a specific writing assignment. You may also refer students to the generic pedagogical resources within Daedalus, such as Respond or Invent, which have their own selection of heuristics designed to meet a variety of standard writing assignments.

To gain access to Daedalus, if you are working from a Macintosh computer, contact Frank Besig at X 2208 or by email Besig@sbcc.net.

T-Force

This is an excellent application designed and constructed by English and English Skills faculty with the assistance of the Faculty Resource Center, using a hypercard application called Hypergasp. It contains many features designed to help students break down writing assignments, explore preliminary responses, use graphical organizers to help them form and shape ideas, etc. It is available in the LRC in the Applications folder on the desktop.

Write!

Write! is a typing program free to all students, located either directly on the desktop or in the Applications folder. It offers self-paced instruction in basic typing skills. Though very old, this application is very effective and reasonably entertaining. It offers students a non-threatening, simple tool for either initiating typing instruction or building upon prior skills levels.

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