This case study describes how the language arts learning process of one fourth grade class in a public elementary school was influenced by having an audience for their school work. Students were involved in collaborative writing, reading, and peer review. Their work was audiotaped and resulted in a radio program, "Kid's Talk", which was aired on a local AM radio station. An existing body of research literature examines numerous radio programs that are available for children. However, there is relatively little work that has been done involving children creating their own radio programs, the processes involved, and the motivational aspects of such work. This study adds to the body of research regarding these factors. This dissertation draws on qualitative research techniques. It utilizes interviewing, student journals, and both parent and student questionnaires, offering several different perspectives of how the participants were affected by their awareness of an audience. Issues addressed include students' reactions to having an audience for their work; the classroom teacher's description of day-to-day experiences while creating the programs with the students; and also the parents' reactions as they witnessed the process through observations of their children. Finally, this work looks at educational benefits derived by the students from working together on a project that involved each member of the class.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UMASS/oai:scholarworks.umass.edu:dissertations-9075 |
| Date | 01 January 1995 |
| Creators | Nowicki, Kathleen Ellen |
| Publisher | ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst |
| Source Sets | University of Massachusetts, Amherst |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest |
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