Ruth Bowles, Moisés Camargo-Cano, Sumedh Nimkar and Simon Williams
Reflective writing has been described as a genre in relation to the ‘common core’ of ‘a general EAP programme’ (Gardner et al., 2019, p. 672), and its increasing use in HE assessment is well documented. It is a form of report writing, which has been defined as an internal examination of the writer’s experience with the purpose of promoting personal change (Boyd & Fales, 1983), a process that can facilitate academic development. Repeated opportunities for practice, alongside formative feedback, are likely to improve student confidence and performance. However, students on EAP courses and beyond are often unfamiliar with the genre’s demands, and tutors find the provision of individual feedback time-consuming. Against this background and the increasing availability of digital technology, we decided to develop an online app that students could access independently. We sought student collaboration for the design and build process and adapted the principle of a similar web application that employs ‘informal rubrics’ to assess and give feedback on students’ reflective writing (Shum et al., 2017, p. 67).
The app works by matching user uploads of reflections on a learning event against selected phrases from assessment criteria and returning feedback and advice. Learners can use the app anytime and anywhere, including on their phone. To evaluate whether users’ needs were met by this technology, we surveyed 11 students and 22 EAP tutors. Overall, they viewed the app as a useful tool to support reflective writing, but they criticised the lack of personalised feedback and wanted clearer instructions and structural guidance for entries. Our collaborative partnership has encouraged a more inclusive approach to scholarship, involving mutual learning and teaching. EAP colleagues could build on our experience by reviewing assessment criteria in other genres with their students and setting up similar opportunities for synchronous or asynchronous conversations about, or through, new technologies.
