Transforming Creative Writing Instruction through Dialogic Pedagogy among Senior High School Learners

Abstract

Traditional creative writing instruction in secondary education is often characterized by a product-oriented, teacher-centered approach in which assessment emphasizes conformity to instructor-defined standards. Such practices may limit students’ opportunities for meaningful engagement, peer interaction, and the development of an independent authorial voice. This study examined the effects of dialogic pedagogy on the creative writing performance and writing self-efficacy of Senior High School learners, with additional focus on narrative agency and writing experiences. A mixed-methods explanatory sequential design was employed. A 12-week instructional intervention was conducted with 120 Grade 12 Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) students across two intact classroom sections assigned to experimental and control groups. Quantitative data were collected through pre-test and post-test assessments using an analytical creative writing rubric and the Creative Writing Self-Efficacy Scale (CWSES), while qualitative data were obtained from focus group discussions and reflective journals. Results revealed that students in the experimental group significantly outperformed those in the control group in both creative writing performance and self-efficacy (p < .001), with notable gains in narrative voice, structural risk-taking, and metacognitive task monitoring. Qualitative findings indicated that dialogic pedagogy fostered a more interactive and supportive learning environment, reduced writing anxiety, enhanced narrative agency, and promoted active engagement in peer feedback and collaborative meaning-making. Overall, the findings suggest that dialogic pedagogy can transform creative writing instruction into a more participatory and process-oriented learning environment that supports student agency, confidence, and expressive development.