Joint Construction
The joint construction of texts by learners and tutors is an effective strategy.
The strategy has several benefits:
- Equality: Meaningful text is created among equals in a
learning partnership. The act of writing is shared.
- Models: Approaches to writing (planning, idea-generation,
composing sentences and revising) are demonstrated by the tutor and witnessed
by the learner. Each supports the other toward the same goal.
- Appropriate Text: The text is interesting and comprehensible
for the learner, who has contributed to its construction and has shared personal
experiences. Follow-up learning activities based on these texts will be more
comprehensible for the learner.
- Confidence: The importance of the learner's ideas and contribution
are reinforced, building learner confidence.
- Success: Learners with intellectual / developmental disabilities
are able to complete writing tasks that they may not otherwise be able to
do (or easily do) on their own. In some cases, generating ideas can be difficult
on one's own. In other cases, difficulties with fine motor control may require
the tutor to do writing.
