Writing to Learn

Why Writing to Learn Is a Priority at Bucks?

Writing to Learn is a set of teaching practices that emphasizes the use of informal, “low stakes” writing activities.

There’s considerable evidence indicating that students who regularly contemplate and articulate key course concepts in their own words – in writing – understand those concepts better and retain them longer. Writing to Learn activities maximize the number of opportunities students have to express these ideas.

Because writing-to-learn activities are informal and often impromptu, they usually aren't marked for correctness. Rather, teachers or classmates read the quick writing assignments for a sense of what students understand or what they are having trouble with.

Bucks Faculty Tell How They Use WTL Techniques in their Classes

Ideas on How to Use WTL in the Classroom

• Fulwiler Presentation WTL facilitator gives guidelines and assessments for Writing to Learn activities.
• Writing to Learn Activities A list of activities that can be adapted for use in any discipline:
• Writing to Learn Activities Using a Computer A list of activities that can be adapted for use in any discipline:
• Alternatives for Evaluation of Writing to Learn Activities
• Writing to Learn Links Research supporting Writing to Learn and other WTL resources.

WTL Bucks Team  

• John Petito: Social & Behavioral Science
• Colleen Dunn: Business Studies
• Steve Sullivan: Science & Technology
• Rik Booraem: Social & Behavioral Science
• Stephen doCarmo: Language & Literature
• Alan Rubin: Language & Literature
• Rebecca Stevenson: Academic Affairs