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last.updated 6.23.14

The Labor of Distance Learning

Purpose

For this class, we will examine the labor of distance education. The decisions that we make to design curriculum for a distance writing course will be colored by the working conditions that the instructor (and others who support the class) are subject to. To this end, you will draft a conference abstract for a workshop that helps participants think about how to juggle labor with sound pedagogy.

Activity–Conference Time

Each group will act as if they will be putting together an abstract for a conference, like Computers and Writing (click for current example). Your workshop will focus on helping instructors of various ranks negotiate learning how to teach writing online, designing curriculum, and then executing the course.

The genre of a conference proposal for a workshop usually explains the problem you are addressing, how the framework of the workshop addresses the problem, and what you will specifically do during the alloted time to teach others how to address the problem.

For this activity you will have 45 minutes to compose the maximum 1000 word abstract drawing upon all of the readings we have done this semester. You can use any of the virtual spaces for which you have been introduced.

Discussion–A Labor of Love?

We will discuss the following questions:

• What questions, comments, or concerns do you have about the readings?
• How do these readings speak to the "CCCC Position Statement of Principles and Example Effective Practices for Online Writing Instruction"?
• Although both of these reading are dated, what issues do you still see resonating with current practices?
• What are the various types of efficiencies that inform the work of online writing instruction? How do you see them playing at your institution when it comes to online instruction? online writing instruction?
• Which strategies presented by DeVoss et al, do you think would get the most traction at your institution? Why?