Many adults who enter universities to continue their education are placed in developmental or basic writing classes. With the prevalence of computers on university campuses, some of these writing classes are taught in computerbased classrooms, which may cause adult learners to be apprehensive of both writing and computers. Previous research studies regarding writing and computer apprehension have examined traditional age college students, ignoring how the social context of the computer-based classroom and the computers used as tools for writing may affect adult learners' attitudes toward both writing and computers. The purpose of this descriptive study of adult developmental writers was to examine their perceptions of the effects of computers in a computer-based writing classroom, focusing on how the context of the classroom, including the social situation within the computer-based classroom, influenced their attitudes and apprehension toward both writing and computers.In order to obtain scores that indicated students' apprehension toward writing and computers, the Daly-Miller Writing Apprehension Test and the Loyd and Gressard Computer Attitude Survey were given to adult learners (n=41) at the beginning and the end of the semester to determine changes in students' apprehension. Additional data from interviews, observation reports, and journals of twelve adult learners allowed the researcher to examine students' perceptions of their interactions with other students and between students and their computers, thus promoting an understanding of the context in which learning to write took place.Findings indicated that adult learners' apprehension scores toward writing and computers decreased by the end of the semester in the computer-based classroom. Qualitative data revealed that the computer-based classroom provided a context that enabled students to form supportive peer groups which helped and impacted their writing, allowing them to develop fluid processes for writing with computers.This study has particular relevance for understanding how adults learn to write in various settings. Adult learners are a special population with unique needs. Apprehension toward writing and computers affects adult learners' attitudes toward writing, many times causing them to drop out of educational programs. This study illuminates the problems and feelings adults face as they learn to write using computers. / Department of Educational Leadership

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of word processing on the quality of written expression of students with learning disabilities identified in the area of written expression. A examination of existing research revealed that most studies do not focus on word processing independent of writing instruction. Therefore, the consensus among researchers that word processors make a difference is limited by the influence of instruction within the research setting. Therefore, this study sought to determine the impact made solely by word processing by controlling for instruction. The 75 students who participated in the study represented three groups--students with learning disabilities identified in the area of written expression (LD-W), students with learning disabilities identified in an area other than written expression (LD-O), and general education students (NA). Each student completed four writing samples: (a) descriptive - handwritten, (b) informative - handwritten, (c) descriptive - word processed, and (d) informative - word processed. The writing samples were scored according to the TOWL-3 on the three Spontaneous Composite subtests (e.g., Contextual Conventions, Contextual Language, and Story Construction). In addition, Word Perfect 6.1- Grammatik was used to determine the number of syllables, words, and sentences in each writing sample. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used in the analysis in conjunction with univariate F-Tests and Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) test. General education students scored consistently higher than LD-W on all subtests even when handwriting and word processing were considered. They also generated more syllables, words, and sentences than students with learning disabilities. In addition, all students scored higher on subtests when writing descriptive samples rather than writing informative samples. No practically significant results were determined for the effect of word processing. Therefore, word processing alone does not have an impact on students' quality of writing. It is simply a tool in the writing process. These results do not suggest that schools disregard the use of technology. Rather, teachers must continue to use word processors during writing instruction but should focus on providing good writing instruction.