Claire Aitchison, University of Western Sydney

Sarah Haas, Aston University

Brief introduction to effectiveness of writing groups for research students

Writing group models

Workshop component Facilitating learning through writing

reviewing and talking

Do you have any particular requests?

Are “the practice as well as the site of production and exchange of knowledge” ( Aitchison and Lee, 2006)

Reconstitute normal teaching learning practices and hierarchies

Are safe spaces for learning and error-making

Normalise writing Are fun and collegial

Benefit writing quality and quantity (Cuthbert, Spark, Burke, 2009; Larcombe, McCosker, O’Loughlin, 2007; Lee & Boud, 2003; Murray, 2008)

Facilitate knowledge and skill acquisition• Informal – eg from peers, communities of

practice • Formal – eg from language lecturers/

supervisors /others Counter isolation Build academic/ research networks

and writing cultures

In the process of writing for the group,

As peers read and critique that text In discussion of that writing amongst

the group Through formal and informal input

from facilitator and peers In the subsequent re-drafting of the

original text

Theory – peer learning (I mostly draw on this eg Boud

& Lee, 2005 – who/what else can we add – from your research?) , communities of practice, legitimate peripheral practice, academic literacies ??

Research – yours, 2 of mine, others (most rsch into WGs I know of is small scale – otherwise research / practice-based evidence into the need for supporting research wtg and wrtg for publication)

Practice – the focus of this workshop ( and then we go to that – drawing on own experiences plus the literature!)

Never know the best way to set this out... But here’re some dimensions – maybe a table? Any ideas?

Self-directed and initiated, groups of peers

Facilitated, institutionally sanctioned• Supervisor initiated (Kamer & Thompson, 2007)• Writing expert / academic adviser facilitated• Single discipline or interdisciplinary• Primary task of group time is discussion of

members text / writing together in group time• Not usually a formal part of the curriculum nor

assessable