Date of Award

Summer 2025

Document Type

Open Access Dissertation

Department

Educational Studies

First Advisor

Rebecca Morgan

Abstract

This action research study focused on the identification of ways to improve the curriculum of freshman Writing Intensive Seminars using an innovative multimodal pedagogical methodology, the Digital Forum, in addition to formal papers and in-class writing. The research examined a Writing Intensive Seminar with approximately 20 students; There were two Research Questions for the present study. RQ1: How does the incorporation of the Digital Forum as a pedagogical approach in college freshman writing classes influence students' levels of behavioral, cognitive, and emotional engagement? RQ2: How does the incorporation of Digital Forums in freshman English Composition courses affect the quality of students' writing and their ability to meet academic writing standards across different writing modalities? The Action Research study concluded that the Digital Forum embodies the theoretical principles of Engagement Theory and Connectivism and creating improved opportunities for meaningful student interaction, critical thinking, and audience connection. The analysis also found that while students' writing in Digital Forums was less formal and restrictive than for graded essays, participation in Digital Forums did not negatively impact their overall writing quality. When used to complement traditional college composition modalities, the Digital Forum represents a comprehensive and adaptable approach to teaching and learning and helps equip students with the written communication skills necessary for academic and professional success.

Rights

© 2025, Thomas Edward Plichta

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