OWLs and the substantive theory of technology

Breuch, Lee-Ann Kastman. “Virtual Peer Review as ‘Remediation.’” Virtual Peer Review: Teaching and Learning About Writing in Online Environments. State Univ. of New York P: 2004. 7-35.

Ø Using Bolter and Grusin’s notion of remediation, Breuch applies it to electronic communication, specifically peer review, to ascertain the extent to which online peer review draws on or remediates f2f peer review. She defines virtual peer review “as the activity of [peers] using computer technology to exchange and respond to one another’s writing for the purpose of improving writing” (10).

Ø She concludes that while virtual peer review draws on the same theoretical principles as f2f peer review, in practice, there are fundamental differences. Virtual peer review is therefore “a remediation of face-to-face peer review in the sense that it emphasizes stark differences rather than similarities” placing emphasis on written communication over oral communication and highlighting the way in which “differences of time, space and interaction in Internet environments” affect response (8).


Ø It should not be taken for granted that the shift from f2f peer review to online peer review is natural and intuitive. Rather, in the same way in which f2f peer review is systematically taught, techniques of online peer review also need to be modeled. This view reflects the substantive theory of technology in that it emphasizes the way in which computers as a medium impact the online tutorial.