-
Be aware of the boundaries between public and
private when class work goes on line
Eric Hoffman's Five Principles for Online
Instruction
(from An
Introduction to Teaching Composition in an Electronic Environment)
-
Integration: the main goal should be writing
instruction; computers and the Internet are only tools and media for writing
-
Simplicity: use the easiest program for
the student to use, and use only features that help accomplish your writing
goals
-
Consistency: establish patterns and procedures
of computer use that students will learn, remember, and repeat before you
introduce new technologies
-
Preparation: always have a plan B, and
take lots of time to prepare your online lessons carefully
-
Improvisation: be ready to switch gears
if the technology isn't cooperating. Try something else online or
go offline to accomplish similar goals
3. Class web pages
Rationale:
-
Saves paper
-
Can be updated frequently
-
Allows seamless access to all class materials,
including syllabus, schedule, student work, webbed discussion, and assignments
-
Allows links to helpful outside materials, such
as the pages for the class textbooks, ancillary readings, etc.
-
Can encourage students to add to the web page
-
More and more students expect classes to have
web pages
Examples:
4. Online reading
lists
Rationale: Similar to 3 above, except that
class readings are also linked to the syllabus
Can include
Examples: See my
English 532 class schedule and resource
page with links to readings
5. Asynchronous online
class discussion
Rationale:
-
Encourages class community through written discourse
-
Enables different voices to emerge than in oral
discussion
-
Provides more time to think and write about class
issues, in and outside of class
-
Automatically saves a record of the discussion
for further use in writing and other class activities
-
Provides vehicle for peer-to-peer writing; audience
is not just the teacher
-
Can help teachers link classes in distant locations
-
Visit my page
on community and Internet discussion groups
Software:
6. Synchronous discussions
for class brainstorming and discussion
Rationale
-
Encourages on-the-fly thinking in writing
-
Helps students practice "skimming and diving"
skills in reading the conversation.
-
Engages different cognitive skills
-
Captures and displays conditional thought
-
Encourages a playful approach to learning
-
Automatically saves a record for later review
-
With Internet-based chat, classes in distant
locations can link up and learn from each other
-
Visit my chat
rationale page
Software
-
Local Area Network:
-
Wide Area Network (mainly one-to-one)
-
Wide Area Network (many-to-many)
7. Editing and commenting
tools in Microsoft Word
Rationale:
-
Helps students take control of the writing environment
-
Helps students edit and revise their own work
using computer-native tools
-
Enables peer review exercises across the network
-
Enables instructor to comment across the network
-
Much more legible than (my) handwriting!
Activities:
-
Gaining control over your word processing environment
-
Using "find and replace" for editing
-
Customizing the grammar checker
-
Using "track changes" to suggest edits and revisions
-
Using color to respond to student papers
-
Using the "comment" feature to respond to student
papers
8. Web page evaluation
Rationale:
-
Encourages a critical approach to all sources,
not just web pages
-
Helps students get beyond the seduction of web
pages' seeming credibility
-
Helps students develop their own rubric for evaluation
-
Exposes students to the wide range of deceptive
techniques on the web
Activity: Evaluating
Webbed Sources for Research
9. Web page creation
Rationale:
-
Gives students access to new audiences and contexts
for writing
-
Teaches students new forms of writing for online
audiences
-
Enhances attention to elements of document and
information design
-
Prepares students for new forms of workplace
writing
-
Encourages students to imagine new forms of writing
made possible by hypertext
Activity: make a simple web page on a
topic of interest to you
10. Resources
Organizations:
Journals:
Books:
Online Discussions:
Conference:
Glossary: