A Study on Pigai System-based RTMI Teaching Model of English Writing

Based on the theory of constructivism and the process theory of composition, the paper discusses a teaching model of Real-Time and Multi-member Interaction (RTMI) based on Pigai system and an empirical study on the new model was conducted in a vocational college in Southern China. A year’s study shows that this teaching model helps promote writing abilities and interests of vocational college students, improves their learning methods and habits and encourages them to learn independently and cooperatively. Introduction In traditional English writing classrooms of vocational colleges, teachers usually explain writing skills first and then students are asked to write an essay. This kind of teaching model cannot arouse students’ interests. And because there are more than 45 students in a class, it is very difficult for a teacher to mark their essays and give feedback promptly. However, most vocational college students have difficulties in expressing themselves in English. Without prompt and constructive guidance, they may feel frustrated about English writing. [1] Therefore, it is high time we break through the traditional mode of teaching writing by making use of modern information technology to help improve students’ writing abilities. Our research attempts are to apply Pigai system which is a system of Automatic Essay Scoring (AES) in teaching of English writing in vocational colleges, construct a Pigai system-based teaching model of RTMI based on the theory of constructivism and the process theory of composition and explore how to better integrate modern information technology and teaching of English writing in order to promote teaching of English writing and improve students’ writing abilities. Pigai System-based RTMI Teaching Model of English Writing Brief Introduction to Pigai System Pigai system is an AES system which offers online scoring service based on English corpus and cloud computing technology. It generates holistic score, overall comments and sentence-based comment. [2] Pigai system has the following features and functions: (1) real -time feedback and sentence-based evaluation. It gives real-time scores, points out errors in spelling, grammar, vocabulary and collocation and makes modification suggestions. Besides, it provides language exercises, recommendation for collocation and sample sentences, etc. With the comprehensive guidance, students can learn how to write on their own. (2) Plagiarism detection. Pigai system checks whether submitted essays duplicate other students’, corpus or web and offers duplication index to teachers for reference. (3) Progress report. Pigai system records the development process of writing abilities of a college, a class or a specific student, which helps teachers know general weaknesses of the school or the class and weak points of individuals. [3] Pigai System-based RTMI Teaching Model of English Writing The writing teaching model of real-time and multi-member interaction (RTMI) on Pigai system is based upon the theory of constructivism and the process theory of composition. “multi-member interaction” refers to the interactions between teachers and students, students and students, students 4th International Conference on Social Science and Contemporary Humanity Development (SSCHD 2018) Copyright © 2019, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, volume 281