Doing the Write Thing
Doing the Write Thing is one of the online professional development courses from the NISOD Learning Scenarios group at Valencia Community College. It focuses on the experiences of a new developmental writing faculty member during her/his first year. By getting involved with the storyline, characters and resources, and interacting with colleagues, you will walk away with skills, attitudes and knowledge to assist you in creating a positive developmental education classroom environment.
Doing the Write Thing is designed for faculty working with developmental writing students. Any faculty member who appreciates collaborative experiences will find great value in this course.
The Doing the Write Thing course:
- is web‑based/distributed and facilitated (faculty-to-faculty)
- is structured as a course (orientation, syllabus, assignments, ongoing discussion threads and assessments) lasting 4 weeks
- utilizes an electronic case study and employs collaborative and problem‑based learning techniques
- leverages the power of story, simulation and role-playing and fosters reflection, judgment and deep insight
- is designed to be integrated with other professional development activities
Course Goals:
- To establish an online learning community for faculty participants
- To encourage self- and group-reflection on the principles and practices of good teaching in the developmental English classroom
- To provide tools, resources, and expert guidance to improve developmental student learning
- To assist faculty in designing positive, enriched learning environments for our developmental education students
- To facilitate developmental student achievement and progress toward outcomes
Course Outcomes:
Upon completing the course, participants will have acquired strategies for:
- Creating a learning-centered environment in developmental English classes
- Assessing the effectiveness of different learning environments
- Prompt analysis of how learning environments can be adapted to meet the needs of developmental English students
- Effective general instruction with developmental English students
- Utilizing application of learning theory in developmental English classrooms
- Helping developmental English students become self-directed learners
- Authentic assessment
- Prompt analysis of assessment methods and adapting and/or improving them for developmental students