Analyzing Cambridge English Write & Improve as a supplementary resource for practicing writing in an English classroom: a case study

Abstract

Nowadays, the acquisition of digital competence is highly promoted in schools. It has become even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic, where face-to-face lessons could no longer be provided, and other technological alternatives had to be introduced and incorporated into the lessons. To raise the digital competence and digital literacy of teachers and help them find new web-based environments that would achieve their educational goals set, it is important to raise educators’ awareness about different webbased learning environments available. One solution would be to provide research on the strengths and weaknesses and learners’ perceptions of different online platforms. One type of web-based environments are automated writing evaluation (AWE) systems. One of the newly developed but scarcely researched AWE tools is Write & Improve developed by the Cambridge English. The aim of this study is to analyze Write & Improve as a supplementary resource for practicing writing with sixteen 11th grade students and what the strengths and weaknesses of the current AWE tool are. The results of this study are useful for teachers who want to integrate Write & Improve into their lessons to practice writing.