Writing in the Digital Age: The Sunday Social with Martin Sketchley

In the Sunday Social, host Martin sits down with educator, editor, and writer Christopher Walker, Director of Studies at International House in Poland and editor of the IH Journal. Together, they delve into the evolving landscape of writing instruction in the digital age—from pen and paper to AI-assisted tools. They discuss how writing pedagogy has shifted from a product-focused model to process-driven approaches that emphasize brainstorming, drafting, and personal voice. Christopher shares practical strategies for making writing more engaging and meaningful, including the use of portfolios, personalization, and rethinking assessment in an AI-aware world. The conversation also explores how ChatGPT and similar tools can support—not replace—good teaching, with concrete examples for both classroom use and teacher development. Plus, hear about Christopher’s work on student publishing projects and how giving learners a real audience can transform motivation and outcomes. Brought to you in partnership with John Catt Educational. 🖋️ Topics include: Why teaching writing is not the same as testing writing How to encourage critical thinking and authentic voice The role of AI in writing classes Portfolio projects and student publishing Using reading texts to model good writing