Events & Venues
Authentic Online Writing Instruction

Authentic Online Writing Instruction

Jun 29 - Jul 1

Virtual Event

This virtual retreat for instructors hosted by Saint Mary’s College, Ind. organized by the Writing Proficiency Program and supported by the Susan L. Weidenbach Fund, with additional support from the Center for Academic Innovation and the Office of Civic and Social Engagement. 

Sessions will run on June 29, 30, and July 1 from 10 a.m. - noon and 1-2 p.m. EST

Last year, many of us suddenly adjusted to online teaching, doing our best to support students and be true to our pedagogy. This retreat is designed to explore the potential of online writing instruction. What can we do in an online environment as well as or even better than in person? What’s possible? And who are we as online instructors? Join us each day for sessions on some of the key topics in teaching online facilitated by experienced, thoughtful educators. 

All sessions will be recorded if you cannot attend in person. We will also host after-lunch coffee hours with our presenters where participants can brainstorm or ask questions about the speakers’ work. Speaker materials will be available for download to participants. 

The cost of attendance for this retreat is $30/day or $75 for non-Saint Mary’s College attendees If that price presents an obstacle, please contact Rebekah Go of the Office for Civic and Social Engagement. Our goal is that all who would like to attend are able to participate in this important educational opportunity. 

We encourage you to read the introduction to Borgman and McArdle’s Personal, Accessible, Responsive, Strategic: Resources and Strategies for Online Writing Instructors in advance. It is available for free on the WAC Clearinghouse site: https://wac.colostate.edu/books/practice/pars/.  

Monday, June 29

10-noon: “Teaching Authentically Online (Developing a teacherly ethos)”

Facilitators: Drs. Jessie Borgman (Arizona State U and Texas Tech U) & Casey McArdle (Michigan State University) 
This session is co-sponsored by the Center for Academic Innovation 

Bios: 

Jessie Borgman has taught both face-to-face and online since 2009. She has several published articles and book chapters and has presented at conferences including, CCCCs, C&W, and TYCA. She has served on the CCCC OWI Standing Group in multiple capacities. Her research interests include online writing instruction, instructional design, eLearning, genre studies, two-year colleges, and writing program administration. She is an instructor in the Writers' Studio at Arizona State University. 

Casey McArdle is the Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures at Michigan State University. He is an advocate for accessibility in and out of the classroom and has been involved with OWI for many years via publications, presentations, and research teams that focus on OWI.

1-2 p.m. Coffee hour with Borgman and McArdle 

Discussion of the introduction to Personal, Accessible, Responsive, Strategic and brainstorm ideas for the fall semester.  

Tuesday, June 30 

10-10:50 a.m. “Utilizing Screencast Software for Clear and Effective Feedback on High-stakes Process Assignments

Facilitator: Dr. Jodi Whitehurst (University of Arkansas - Beebe) 

Bio:

Jodi Whitehurst holds an Ed.D. in Higher Education with an English composition faculty leadership concentration, an M.A. in Professional and Technical Writing, and a B.S. in Education.  She is an Assistant Professor of English Composition at Arkansas State University in Beebe and advisor for the literary and art magazine, Uncharted. Jodi's most recent publications include a book chapter in Enriching Communication and Collaboration in Online Learning Communities and a co-authored textbook titled Creative Composition. She continues to present at state and national conferences.

11-noon: “Assignment Design in an Online Environment” 

Facilitator: Zapoura Newton-Calvert, Portland State University 
This session is co-sponsored by the Office of Civic and Social Engagement 

Bio:

Zapoura Newton-Calvert is a faculty-in-residence for community engagement for Portland State University’s Office of Academic Innovation and has taught creative, collaborative writing and community-based learning courses at PSU, Portland Community College, and Marylhurst University. She has also taught hybrid and online service learning classes in partnership with local schools and educational organizations. Her research and pedagogy center on removing barriers to educational equity, social justice in online learning, community-based learning online, and Universal Design for learning. She is the co-author (with Deborah Smith Arthur) of “Online Community-Based Learning as the Practice of Freedom: The Online Capstone Experience at Portland State University” and “Capstone Courses and Projects,” a chapter in High-Impact Practices in Online Education: Research and Best Practices (ed. Linder & Hayes 2018). She has recently presented on social justice in K-12 education, online writing and community-based learning, and portfolio writing at leading education and composition conferences.

1-2 p.m. Coffee hour with Newton-Calvert

Discussion of her work with community-engaged learning and assignments and receive feedback on ideas for the fall semester. 

Wednesday, July 1

10-noon: Conversations and Collaborations: Facilitating online discussion, peer review, and revision 

Facilitator: Dr. Lydia Wilkes, Idaho State University 

Bio:

Lydia Wilkes is an assistant professor of English at Idaho State University where she specializes in rhetoric, composition, and writing studies. She has extensive experience with online writing instruction as a teacher, curriculum developer, writing program administrator, and scholar. Her publications have addressed online writing instruction apropos of graduate instruction in OWI and anti-Black racism in first-year writing. She likes cats.

1-2 p.m. Coffee hour with Dr. Wilkes

Discussion of her ideas for the fall semester and/or her article, “The Same Old Racist Stuff: White Fragility, Rhetorical Listening, and Affect in Online Writing Instruction” (CWCON Proceedings, 2018).