1. Teaching Online
Jim Dubinsky

2. Interesting Facts
84% of America’s teachers consider the photocopier & adequate paper supply the one type of technology (actually 2) most necessary (U.S. Dept. of Education)
% of 4th Graders, 86.9% of high school students wrote stories/papers on computers; By 1998, 98% of schools had computers
By 2005, a majority of Americans will spend more time on the Internet than watching TV
Most newspapers are completely digital until they are printed

3. What’s Changed? For Whom?
Compare surgeon from mid-nineteenth century and surgeon today (and surgery wards)
Compare composition teacher from mid-nineteenth century and composition teacher (who doesn’t use a computer classroom or the WWW)
Read Seymour Papert and Nicholas Negroponte

4. Distance Learning: Leaving the Classroom
The separation of teacher and learner in space & time during at least a majority of each instructional process
The use of educational media to unite teacher and learner and carry course content
The provision of two-way communication between teacher, tutor, educational agency, and learner
Volitional control of learning by student

5. Teaching Writing & Internet
Many teachers laud the advantages of networked classroom
Most, however, still believe in face-to-face interaction, the need for collaboration, and having students meet for in-class presentations
Many teachers affirm “virtual spaces”; others worry about physical/spiritual isolation

6. Advantages of Composition as we Know it
One space where students get face-to-face instruction
Nearly every writing course is the antithesis of the large lecture hall where the mode of learning is via transmission (from teacher to student--often called “banking method”)

7. Questions
What will multimedia do to alter the personae of teachers and students as they respond virtually?
How do new technologies change relationships between students and teachers?
How does the concept of classroom community change with advent of new technologies?

8. Questions (cont.)
What are consequences of increasing distance between students and teachers?
What is the primary motivation for moving online? (is it financial?)
How will the conditions of work change?
What are implications of telecommuting?
How will writing instruction compete with aggressive educational offerings from business and industry?

9. Workshop Schedule Roundtable Building Community
Learning to use tools to teach Writing
Technical Writing and the WWW
Putting a Course Online
Final Questions & Answers