functional writing
 : Party Time ( Computer )
Approach: One to one
328k
Resources: Macintosh Powerbook 5300CS laptop computer with Hypercard program allowing student to construct a party invitation using word processing skills.

HomepageQuestions / instructions:
The computer is set up with the home page showing.
This activity, called Party Time, is done on the computer. Your task is to write an invitation to a friend. All of your instructions are on the computer.
I want you to do this on your own, including working out how to use the computer.
You have 5 minutes to do this task.
The computer will tell you when 4 minutes is up.
You can start now by clicking the button that says Party Time, then begin to do the activity.
Apart from general encouragement to "try things out", do not give the student any help with operating the computer 'word processor'.

  % responses
y8

Aspects included: who invitation is to
who invitation is from
where party will be held
phone number to contact
day
date
start time
end time
nature of event
reason for event
RSVP instructions or equivalent
what to bring
Total score: 9–12
5–8
0–4

77
25
52
12
23
41
47
23
79
37
12
23
3
46
51

Commentary:
Year 8 students were much less successful with this computer-based task than with the corresponding paper-and-pencil task, Party Time Almost all included some components appropriately, but the time limit restricted overall success. Some students spent to much time working on nice formats, so that they did not have time to complete their invitations.



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