The learning curve is relatively steep, requiring at least two class sessions before students begin to feel comfortable. There are excellent instructions on using the program in the Connect Manual, but students often want to learn on-line and not read the book. The next version should be more Web than WORD-based. It is much easier to learn and access is no problem, since it is totally Web based. There can be negative side effects with forums, however, for the kind of serious writing I am looking for.
Students take less care with their writing, and spelling and sentence errors abound.
Clearly they rarely work over their writing when it is being written in a box, and even having the ability to edit does not help. Accustomed to chat groups where coherence and capitals are often optional, they may revert to that style. Given a choice, students generally chose Connect, once they have mastered it. They like the idea of formal posting and informal discussion, and in fact, the results are generally more substantial from my perspective. However, both tools can be easily adapted to create a community of active readers who learn how to think and interpret for themselves.