������������� • Widespread concern about undergraduate academic English writing skills. Pleasures and pitfalls: • Early detection + support = better outcomes developing faculty-specific online � ����� ������� team won funding to deliver faculty- writing modules for first years specific online writing units for first years to be delivered by WebCT. Dr Cheryl Lange Ninth Biennial Conference Association for Academic Language and Learning • www.studysmarter.uwa.edu.au University of Queensland 25-27 November 2009 ������������ ��������� �������������� • Relevant lecturers, Associate Deans etc contacted • Contacting lecturers and students & project explained • Lecturers wanted modules available to all students • Conceptualising the content and format • Essay questions provided by 1 st year lecturers (not • Choosing a platform in Law) • Names of students who received a HD provided • Feedback on paper versions of modules provided ������������ �������� ��������� • Choosing a suitable platform was frustrating and • Focus groups time consuming. – analysing the question – marking criteria – structuring assignments Reason – referencing, paraphrasing, quoting • HD essays supplied • lack of knowledge (mine and others) • Student use will be the real test – “I probably won’t use it if it’s voluntary” – “the best students are the most likely to use it” • Evaluation survey part of final version
����� Open source software “for producing internet-based courses and web sites. It's … designed to support a social constructionist framework of education." Compared with WebCT reportedly ( http://moodle.com.au/) • WebCT was nominated as the platform to deliver • easier to use for developers Getting the modules. comprehensive • easier accessibility for updating • Its capacity to do so was questioned. information & a • more accessible to more students nuanced Reasons understanding UWA review of CMS planned • Assumption that it was widely used was unfounded of the ramifications of • no guarantee Moodle preferred option • Enrolment in unit required using moodle • no ongoing funding proved difficult. ������� ���������� ����������������������� How do I translate the material I have developed in a word file into modules that are: • Content management system used for ����� ������� • interactive website • appealing • Support and training available (in theory) • accessible • Easy accessibility for students within UWA and given my skills and the ‘clunkiness’ beyond. of MySource Classic? • BUT not straightforward �������������� • Produced some interactive diagrams and quizzes. • Advised on what types of quizzes were possible. • Enabled the project to move to a ‘live’ version. • Fixed up the ‘live’ version when the interactive components ‘disappeared’. www.uwa.edu.au/academicwriting
����������������������������� ������������� • Feedback from staff in Business and Law – success • Initial discussions with • A consultative indicator. staff and students, committee of staff collaboration with staff • “I can let you know that the law staff at the recent and students education committee meeting thought that your work was • Sections to be accessed great (I hope you have been thanked)!” (Associate Dean • A series to be worked when required Students). through in order • “I just read through the businesswriting page and I would • Limited audio, lack of • Audios of staff and certainly refer my students to this; I’ll suggest that we staff volunteers, students discuss this at our T & L meeting as I’d like to see it being students not yet approached used across the faculty so that there’s a standard set of guidelines for our students rather than each lecturer providing slightly different advice.” (Director Undergraduate Programs)
������������ �� � ������������ ����� ������� ���� • UWA changing to MySource Matrix which doesn’t • Evaluation lecturers/students – success indicator support javascript (needed for interactive components). • Web stats – success indicator • UWA changing to a new course structure in 2012, • Updating = short shelf life for online writing modules? • General maintenance • UWA’s web systems and support will need to be up • Staff time to the challenge of 21 st century students.
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