The Written Word

On this podcast, we talk a lot about writing, particularly teaching students how to write. We’ve heard from educational psychologists, literacy specialists, professors, and even our own listeners. But, so far, one voice has been conspicuously absent: the students themselves. On this episode, we put the student voice front and center and find out what writing means to them. Special guest: Ben Tarkoff, rising junior at the University of Alabama and Marketing Intern at Turnitin.

Artificial Intelligence: it’s the latest buzzword infiltrating the technology industry, and edtech is not immune. Turnitin’s resident machine learning and artificial intelligence experts help breakdown this charged topic. What can artificial intelligence actually do in classroom settings, and how can educators leverage it in their writing instruction practices? Special guests: Stephanie Butler, Director of Product Strategy and Elijah Mayfield, VP of New Technologies.

Synthesizing and attributing information, which are both essential components of authentic writing, are information literacy skills. With more information readily available than ever before, the challenge becomes evaluating and processing this information in preparation for writing. What skills must writers develop to seamlessly move from a list of potential topics to a paper and what are the steps in between? Special Guest: Lynn Lampert, an academic librarian with a specialization in information literacy instruction.

We have a unique episode today because we are speaking with a listener! We love hearing your thoughts about the podcast and writing in general and received many thoughtful responses to Season 1. One message, in particular, resonated with us, and we are pleased to have that listener join us on this episode. Special Guest: Christopher Weaver, Writing Program Director at William Paterson University in New Jersey.

Contract cheating, the practice of a student submitting an assignment that has been completed by someone else, is a rising threat to academic integrity. Is contract cheating more prevalent in our universities than ever before? How can higher education institutions create a sustainable culture of academic integrity? Special guest: Dr. Tracey Bretag, Associate Professor in the School of Management at the University of South Australia Business School.

Writing has the reputation of being a solitary task. However, digital media has transformed the way we write, especially in regards to involving other people. Now, online writing communities create digital spaces for writers to come together and collectively wrestle with their craft. What is it like to be a part of one of these communities and how have they changed the experience of writing? Special Guest: Billie Fitzpatrick, Chief Learning Strategist for Write the World.