Making Revision Stick Online Adapting Nondigital Co-Writing Strategies for Digital Engagement

Abstract

This reflective essay documents the adaptation of an active-learning strategy in response to the spring 2020 global pandemic. We detail how we adapted it from its original form as an intentionally nondigital, face-to-face, team-based writing activity into a new, fully digital format. We articulate the active-learning methods driving the original design as well as its resulting learning outcomes in previous semesters. Although we initially worried the pivot into a digital format could undercut the original core learning objectives, we argue that the new format not only delivered those outcomes but generated new outcomes and insights. We describe the activity’s inherent pedagogical flexibility and adaptability across modalities and document how the pivot inspired us to interrogate our previous assumptions concerning face-to-face, team-based writing instruction and active learning.