Computers and the Teaching of Writing: implications for teacher development

ABSTRACT

The relationship between the computer and the teaching of writing is complex; it varies over time, is embedded in the classroom social context, and depends on the teacher's instructional goals. In this article, several dimensions of this relationship are explored to provide illustrations of its complexity. The conclusion is that the computer literacy workshops or courses typically found in pre‐service or in‐service teacher educational programmes are inadequate to prepare teachers for the teaching of writing with computers. New kinds of courses need to be developed that examine how computers affect classroom culture and the writing process.