From keyboard to screen communication : teachers' attitudes towards the use of asynchronous collaborative activities on developing the writing skill

Abstract EN

Within the tenets of the so-called Computer-Mediated Communication (henceforth, CMC), the “here and now” are no longer required since learning is now taking place through networked devices, either simultaneously “Synchronous” (SCMC) or at different period of time “Asynchronous” (ACMC).

To this end, this study aimed to investigate the extent to which EFL teachers are ready to use such mode of communication in writing classrooms in order to urge the learners to critically discuss and evaluate their written performances.

Hence, an explanatory method of research was conducted, whereby a questionnaire was administered to 60 EFL teachers from Badji Mokhtar University (Annaba/Algeria).

For the sake of an in-depth analysis structured interviews was conducted.

Results revealed some positive attitudes towards such virtual forums.

Findings also showed some apprehensions concerning the introduction of ACMC in an EFL context.

Accordingly, some guidelines were conferred.