Granted, Technology Makes Better Writers Ken Ronkowitz and Greg Fallon Passaic County Community College

Historical Backdrop Recommendation from Middle States (April 2004) Response: The College Writing Committee Information gathering focus groups Surveys Visits research)

Recommendation from Middle States (April 2004)

Response: The College Writing Committee

Information gathering

focus groups

Surveys

Visits

research)

Historical Backdrop Faculty Survey (FA 04, 80+% response rate from faculty) Development of ideas (63% dissatisfied) Support of ideas (64% dissatisfied) Preparation in research (65% dissatisfied) Editing, proofreading (82% dissatisfied) Preparation in grammar (79% dissatisfied) Ability to evaluate info (66% dissatisfied) Ability to synthesize info from various sources (71% dissatisfied) Develop thinking best through writing (81% agree)

Faculty Survey (FA 04, 80+% response rate from faculty)

Development of ideas (63% dissatisfied)

Support of ideas (64% dissatisfied)

Preparation in research (65% dissatisfied)

Editing, proofreading (82% dissatisfied)

Preparation in grammar (79% dissatisfied)

Ability to evaluate info (66% dissatisfied)

Ability to synthesize info from various sources (71% dissatisfied)

Develop thinking best through writing (81% agree)

College Writing Committee Recommendations to the Academic Council (Fall 2006) Student grad requirement of two W-I courses ; Faculty training in writing and critical thinking integration for W-I instructors; Establishment of college-level writing center ; Ongoing assessment of student writing and critical thinking skills development; Online resources (eTutoring, ePortfolios, and others) to aid students in improving writing and critical thinking skills; Writing partnerships formed w/ 4-yr schools and other institutions; Writing activities developed in coordination with College’s own developmental and ESL programs along w/ local high schools ; and Advisory board , made up of PCCC faculty and staff members, formed to help guide the College Writing Initiative.

Student grad requirement of two W-I courses ;

Faculty training in writing and critical thinking integration for W-I instructors;

Establishment of college-level writing center ;

Ongoing assessment of student writing and critical thinking skills development;

Online resources (eTutoring, ePortfolios, and others) to aid students in improving writing and critical thinking skills;

Writing partnerships formed w/ 4-yr schools and other institutions;

Writing activities developed in coordination with College’s own developmental and ESL programs along w/ local high schools ; and

Advisory board , made up of PCCC faculty and staff members, formed to help guide the College Writing Initiative.

Approval Of Title V Grant Application Title V grant proposal for $2.5 M over 5 yrs. (Summer 2007) Develop 20 distinct, W-I gen ed courses (w/ multiple sections); Provide comprehensive training (w/ stipends) for faculty; Create and staff college-level writing center for student and faculty support; and Develop and provide extensive online resources and writing support.

Title V grant proposal for $2.5 M over 5 yrs. (Summer 2007)

Develop 20 distinct, W-I gen ed courses (w/ multiple sections);

Provide comprehensive training (w/ stipends) for faculty;

Create and staff college-level writing center for student and faculty support; and

Develop and provide extensive online resources and writing support.

Writing improves through writing Technology can improve the teaching of writing and the resulting student writing.

Writing improves through writing

Technology can improve the teaching of writing and

the resulting student writing.

Change Agents Low/No Tech Writing Intensive redesign of Gen Ed courses Professional development Writing Center Standardized rubrics for writing, critical thinking, info literacy Tech-Driven ePortfolio LibGuides eTutoring Blackboard Portal COL 102 Media – FMG, wpunj.edu/ njvid Blogs Podcasting and…

Low/No Tech

Writing Intensive redesign of Gen Ed courses

Professional development

Writing Center

Standardized rubrics for writing, critical thinking, info literacy

Tech-Driven

ePortfolio

LibGuides

eTutoring

Blackboard

Portal COL 102

Media – FMG, wpunj.edu/ njvid

Blogs

Podcasting

and…

PCCC’s Graduate Writing Exam Unique in NJ Higher Education (?) Students are not awarded their degrees without passing an essay examination near the end of their degree program. Eligible to take the exam upon successful completion of Composition II and upon having attained at least half of the credits needed for graduation. Offered throughout the year Given two topics from which to choose: one pertaining to their major and a general topic Students who fail on their first attempt are strongly encouraged to arrange to work with a tutor from the testing center before taking the exam again.

Unique in NJ Higher Education (?)

Students are not awarded their degrees without passing an essay examination near the end of their degree program.

Eligible to take the exam upon successful completion of Composition II and upon having attained at least half of the credits needed for graduation.

Offered throughout the year

Given two topics from which to choose: one pertaining to their major and a general topic

Students who fail on their first attempt are strongly encouraged to arrange to work with a tutor from the testing center before taking the exam again.

Accountability & the GWE Pass/Fail 1-12 holistic scale 7+ is passing 65% pass (mostly 7’s) on first attempt The Initiative hopes to improve The average to 8 Passing to 85% An increased number of essays at 9-12 The GWE is not THE measure of our success, but… WHY?

Pass/Fail 1-12 holistic scale 7+ is passing

65% pass (mostly 7’s) on first attempt

The Initiative hopes to improve

The average to 8

Passing to 85%

An increased number of essays at 9-12

Changing Accountability Reacting to U.S. D of Ed and Congressional criticisms of Middle States & other accrediting agencies… Are they truly holding colleges accountable? Are they too collegial? 

Reacting to U.S. D of Ed and Congressional criticisms of Middle States & other accrediting agencies…

Are they truly holding colleges accountable?

Are they too collegial? 

Changing Accountability Suggestions made include more objective measures be used in the accrediting process, such as standardized exams for students. The proposals in some ways are similar to the “No Child Left Behind” programs for K-12. While the exact impact on colleges is not currently known, we can expect a far more rigorous review in the future with particular emphasis on Institutional Effectiveness and Student Learning Outcomes .

Suggestions made include more objective measures be used in the accrediting process, such as standardized exams for students.

The proposals in some ways are similar to the “No Child Left Behind” programs for K-12.

While the exact impact on colleges is not currently known, we can expect a far more rigorous review in the future with particular emphasis on Institutional Effectiveness and Student Learning Outcomes .

Using Technology Tools Consortiums Collaboration Web 2.0 Online Apps

eTutoring.org Northeast eTutoring Consortium (30+ schools) Shared resources among the participating members; we provide writing tutor

Northeast eTutoring Consortium (30+ schools)

Shared resources among the participating members; we provide writing tutor

eTutoring Platform Synchronous & Asynchronous Synchronous (using Macromedia Breeze™) for chat with whiteboard, application & file sharing, audio & video Asynchronous tools online Question Queue where students can submit questions Online Resource Center - links, tips, & techniques for improved writing skills. Online Writing Lab 

Synchronous & Asynchronous

Synchronous (using Macromedia Breeze™) for chat with whiteboard, application & file sharing, audio & video

Asynchronous tools

online Question Queue where students can submit questions

Online Resource Center - links, tips, & techniques for improved writing skills.

Online Writing Lab 

eTutoring - Online Writing Lab Students request help with written assignments by submitting their documents (see online form) All correspondence is archived—a complete document revision history exists (students may submit 3 drafts of all assignments) Interested in being an eTutor?

Students request help with written assignments by submitting their documents (see online form)

All correspondence is archived—a complete document revision history exists (students may submit 3 drafts of all assignments)

The Freshman Year Experience A required 1-credit course (w/ plans to expand to a 2-credit hybrid) that can also serve as an introduction to the aims and resources of the W-I courses: information literacy; online library databases; LibGuides; eTutoring; ePortfolio; online journaling…

A required 1-credit course (w/ plans to expand to a 2-credit hybrid) that can also serve as an introduction to the aims and resources of the W-I courses:

information literacy; online library databases; LibGuides; eTutoring; ePortfolio; online journaling…

“ Library 2.0” – easy read/write and collaboration for librarians and faculty for resources and shared links Community - 130+ libraries world wide, 2,500+ librarians who share ideas, content, and collaborate on creating guides. http://www.springshare.com/libguides/

“ Library 2.0” – easy read/write and collaboration for librarians and faculty for resources and shared links

Community - 130+ libraries world wide, 2,500+ librarians who share ideas, content, and collaborate on creating guides.

pccc.libguides.com Hosted service Shared edit access to pages Easily embed videos, RSS feeds and podcasts Import Del.icio.us tag clouds Enables tagging of content and organizing guides by subject categories. LibGuides browser button to quickly add weblinks to your Guides.

Hosted service

Shared edit access to pages

Easily embed videos, RSS feeds and podcasts

Import Del.icio.us tag clouds

Enables tagging of content and

organizing guides by subject categories.

LibGuides browser button to quickly add weblinks to your Guides.

pccc.libguides.com Insert dynamic scripts for web forms, catalog search boxes, or online databases search boxes inside your guides. Widgets to embed library content into any blog, website, social network, or courseware system. (Flash components that can be placed inside any page with a simple <object> tag) Track usage statistics for your Guides Share Guides on del.icio.us, and 

Insert dynamic scripts for web forms, catalog search boxes, or online databases search boxes inside your guides.

Widgets to embed library content into any blog, website, social network, or courseware system. (Flash components that can be placed inside any page with a simple <object> tag)

Track usage statistics for your Guides

Share Guides on del.icio.us, and 

LibGuides In Facebook first library app available to Facebook’s 50 million users users select LibGuides from apps list app will recognize the user's school affiliation and present them with their &quot;home&quot; system. distribute library content across the web meet students where they are improve visibility of resources & services

first library app available to Facebook’s 50 million users

users select LibGuides from apps list

app will recognize the user's school affiliation and present them with their &quot;home&quot; system.

distribute library content across the web

meet students where they are

improve visibility of resources & services

ePortfolios Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) student-centered platform augmented by a Project Builder and an Assessment module Students create and customize portfolios for academic, career, or personal uses maintain their plan of study share their work, goals, and achievements with advisors, career counselors, and employers ePortfolio.org is a hosted application (no additional IT hardware or staffing) enterprise level Data Center 24/365

student-centered platform

augmented by a Project Builder and an Assessment module

Students create and customize portfolios for academic, career, or personal uses

maintain their plan of study

share their work, goals, and achievements with advisors, career counselors, and employers

ePortfolio.org is a hosted application (no additional IT hardware or staffing)

enterprise level Data Center 24/365

ePortfolios Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium (CTDLC) Faculty, departments, and institutions can create portfolio assignments linked to scoring rubrics. Assessment committees can randomly select portfolios, score them with rubrics, and generate assessment reports. ePortfolio is integrated with Blackboard or Vista allowing for Single Sign-On & students may select previously uploaded files in Blackboard’s Content Management system to be included in their electronic portfolio.

Faculty, departments, and institutions can create portfolio assignments linked to scoring rubrics.

Assessment committees can randomly select portfolios, score them with rubrics, and generate assessment reports.

Entry Wizard Page

NJ Collaborations? Writing Writing assessment & accountability Using technology to improve writing ePortfolios 2.0 tools Consortiums Northeast  NJ?

Writing

Writing assessment & accountability

Using technology to improve writing

ePortfolios

2.0 tools

Consortiums

Northeast  NJ?