[Active Learning Online] [Technology and WAC] [Links and Resources]
WAC is premised on theories that maintain that writing is a valuable learning tool that can help students synthesize, analyze, and apply course content. WAC designated courses tend to apply one or both of the following approaches:
Writing to Learn
This particular approach to WAC frequently makes use of journals, logs, microthemes, and other, primarily informal, writing assignments. If they write reactions in their own words to information received in class or from reading, students often comprehend and retain information better. Also, because students write more frequently, they either maintain or improve their writing skills and avoid a decrease in writing ability from entrance to senior year.
Example: http://webpage.pace.edu/erichie/wacguide/3b.html
Writing in the Disciplines (WID)
This approach is based on the understanding that each discipline has its own conventions of language use and style and that these conventions must be taught to students so that they might successfully participate in academic discourse. Reports, article reviews, and research papers are the most commonly used assignments in a WID focused course.
 Active Learning Online
- Encourages contacts between students and faculty: frequent, encouraging
- asynchronous, "more intimate, protected, and convenient"
- Develops reciprocity and cooperation among students: group activities and informal conversations
- asynchronous and synchronous communication
- Encourages active learning: talking, writing, developing, discovering, applying
- simulations, authentic and archival research, discovery and development, interaction with experts
- Gives prompt feedback: appropriate, frequent, encouraging
- text commenting, electronic portfolios, individual responses, responses to group
- Emphasizes time on task: constructive, productive
- asynchronous access
- Communicates high expectations: support systems
- publication and performance
- Respects diverse talents and ways of learning: values and extends
- writing, reading, reflecting, illustrating, enabling
Asynchronous and Synchronous
Asynchronous (Email, Discussions)
- Extending discussions among students and faculty between classes
- Building learning teams independent of time and place
- Allowing time to read and reflect in class or between classes
- Recording-publishing information or ideas
- Encouraging and practicing various types of private and public discourse
Synchronous (Same-time Chat, Instant Messaging)
- Sharing information or opinions during class
- Writing to focus, discover, and discuss content and concepts
- Saving transcript of session for review and study
- Meeting online when students cannot meet face to face
- Planning projects
- Discussing informally
- Study sessions
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Technology & Writing Across the Curriculum
1. Word processing
- Process Writing:
- Pre-writing: freewriting/brainstorming; outlining; concept mapping; journaling
- Drafting/composing: scrapfile; split screens; making notes; re-organizing paragraphs/sentences; staying on topic
- Revising/editing: saving drafts; saving materials to cut and paste; using tools - spellcheck, grammar/style check (with caution), thesaurus; changing appearance of key components (thesis statement, topic sentences, active/passive construction
- Intro to Process Writing and Technology
- Writing with Computers
2. email
3. online discussions/chat
4. electronic portfolios
5. web pages
6. blogs/online journals
7. research: searching techniques; evaluating sites
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Other Links and Resources
Electronic Communication Across the Curriculum
http://wordsworth2.net/resource/ecac-writing/ecacindex.htm
http://wordsworth2.net/resource/ecacrsrc.htm
Writing Across the Curriculum and Writing in the Disciplines
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/WAC/
Computers and the Teaching of Writing
http://www.siue.edu/%7Esmoiles/CAI-writ.html
Teaching in the Computer Classroom
http://writing.colostate.edu/references/teaching/pcclass/index.cfm
Writing Across the Curriculum Clearinghouse
http://wac.colostate.edu/links/
Articles on Writing Across the Curriculum
http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/cwp/lib/wacgen.html
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