The Research finding of SOS Model for an English Writing Course in Distance Education

Abstract

       This study aims to explore a practical model developed to provide an English Writing course remotely at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Building on the pre-existing teaching and learning methods which have successfully delivered most English courses in the programme, SOS Model (Self studying, Online practice, and Synchronous teaching) attempts to fill in the gap where studying in isolation is a certain procedure. As the name of the model suggests, SOS model is comprised of three main methods. The first two methods have been adopted from the precedent classroom management while the other one has been recently designed to assist students. To start with, Self-study involves studying course content through a textbook and video lessons on STOU e-Learning. Online practice, then, helps improve student’s writing skills. Divided into a group of four, students are encouraged in feedback exchange on the team members’ works, and help brainstorm and produce final writing papers. Ultimately, Synchronous teaching allows lecturers and an educational technologist serve as course facilitators; motivating, assisting, and answering inquiries during and after the real-time classes with the help of e-Learning, MS Teams, and Line application. Satisfaction levels towards the use of the SOS Model in remote English teaching among undergraduate students who enrolled in the course English Writing during the second semester of the academic year 2022, with a total of 521 participants over a period of four months, were examined. The findings indicated that students were highly satisfied in all aspects and conveyed positive attitudes towards learning through the SOS Model. This study merely serves as a starting point for research and development of effective and efficient remote English teaching models, that can influence student learning outcomes and be applied to a variety of course content.