Improving Persuasive Writing Outcomes With Technology for Students in an Alternative Special Education Program

A study using a multiple-baseline across participants design was conducted in an alternative education setting to examine the functional relation between students’ use of a technology-based graphic organizer (TBGO) with embedded self-regulated learning strategies on the quantity and quality of their persuasive essay writing. Three third- to fifth-grade students with writing difficulties and complex behavioral needs receiving services in an alternative special education program participated in the study. The dependent variables included the number of words, number of transition words, and writing quality scores across (a) baseline (writing on the computer without the TBGO), (b) TBGO-use phase (writing on a computer with the TBGO), and (c) maintenance (writing on the computer without the TBGO). The visual and statistical analyses of data indicated all participants improved the quality of their writing, and two students also increased the quantity of their writing across phases. Students’ self-efficacy for self-regulated learning in writing ratings were also monitored throughout the study. Results indicated an overall increase in their perceived self-efficacy for writing.