Technology-mediated writing: It’s not how much, but the thought that counts

Struggling writers including students with disabilities (SWD) need instructional strategies to support their ability to write independently. Integrating technology-mediated instruction to support student writing can mitigate students' challenges throughout the writing process and personalize instruction. In the present group design study, teachers taught 11 to 12 year olds in sixth grade with varying abilities to use a technology-based graphic organizer (TBGO) when digitally planning and composing a persuasive paragraph. Results indicated that the writing quality of the paragraph and use of transition words by typical and struggling writers was significantly better when the TBGO was used as compared to students who wrote without the TBGO. Additionally, when the TBGO was removed, students in the treatment group maintained gains. Student participants and teachers in this study identified features that were especially supportive to students’ writing behaviors. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.