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How do I get started? 

It can be a little intimidating to create an online writing class either from the ground up, from a course you inherited from someone, or to try and convert your face-to-face writing class to an online writing class.

Even if you have a lot of support or you've used a lot of digital technology in your normal face-to-face classes, the task of creating an online writing course can still be daunting. Online writing instruction is a completely different modality than face-to-face courses and you have to create your course specifically for the online modality. 
 
There are so many things to think about when designing an online writing course. Some of these things will be second nature and others might be new challenges. The length of courses can have an impact in how you design your writing assignments. Whether it is a 6 week course, a 10 week course, or a 16 week course, the goals for each are the same but the difficult task is trying to achieve those goals in less than half the time of some of the longer courses.

We always suggest mapping out your course before you jump into the learning management system and build it. Mapping can be done by hand, in a spreadsheet, or a regular text document. We suggest a mapping process that takes into account the following:
  • the term length
  • the course goals/outcomes
  • the number of projects/writing assignments the students need to create
  • the skills and knowledge they will need to complete those projects

In addition to considering the items above, we also highly recommend you read Blythe's (2001) piece, Designing Online Courses: User-Centered Practices which was ahead of it's time in thinking about the lack of training instructors get in how to design online writing courses. 

Below we've outlined some tips to help you get started and we've gathered some chapters/articles to help you think about various elements of online courses.  


User Experience 

Design

  • Develop a course development design cycle that focuses on the users!
    • Borgman & McArdle, 2022
  • Consider the entire user experience when designing! (don't forget you're a user too!)
    • Getto, 2021
  • User test your course!
    • Bartolotta, 2021
 
  • Consider the literacy load in your course! 
    • Sibo, 2021
  • Plan for the possibility of international students!
    • Stewart, 2021
  • If you run a program, help your instructors with design choices!
    • Smith, et al. 2021 

Instruction

Administration 

  • Plan the technologies you'll use and ensure access!
    • McClure & Mahaffey, 2021 
  • Determine your grading strategy!
    • Laflen & Sims, 2021
  • Support your faculty and set expectations!
    • Hilliard, 2021
  • Provide training for your faculty!
    • Jackson & Olinger, 2021
    • Wilkes, 2021

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  • PARS
  • Resources/Research
    • Getting Started
    • OWI & Distance Education Resources
    • Books
    • Web Tools
  • OWI Symposium
    • August 2021
    • September 2021
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
  • Professionalization
    • Conferences
    • Get Published
    • Contingent Faculty
  • About Us
    • Work with us!