How can collaborative writing transform the way students learn, think, and connect? This 30-minute presentation shares insights from a three-year project exploring “Reading Circles”—a student-led, role-based activity in a first-year research writing course. Using Etherpad, a collaborative online writing tool, students engaged in critical discussions and co-authored texts, fostering deeper understanding, teamwork, and classroom community. Drawing on survey and focus group data, we’ll highlight how structured collaboration supports academic skill development, promotes inclusion, and offers practical strategies for enhancing student agency and engagement in writing-intensive courses.
