Online Writing Instructors: Preparation, Development, & Support.

On November 14, Laura McGrath, an Assistant Professor of English at Kennesaw State University, will be visiting the CWRL as part of the Lab's Lecture Series. The lecture, entitled "Online Writing Instructors: Preparation, Development, & Support," will take place at 3:00 in the Texas Union's Asian Culture Room.

Dr. McGrath will present the results of her national and a local survey of online writing instructors. The purpose of this study was to gather information about online writing instructor preparation, development, and support. In order to make informed decisions about training and support, stakeholders need to know what online writing instructors are saying about these matters. Although survey results reveal some differences among three populations of online writing instructors (graduate TAs, instructors and adjuncts, and tenure-track faculty), many of the survey respondents report similar challenges, concerns, and experiences.

Dr. McGrath will be visiting the CWRL as part of a another study of programs that support digital media teaching and research. She is interviewing program directors and faculty who have worked with the program staff, observing the spaces designated for work with digital media, and studying how the programs' missions are implemented and their work sustained. Dr. McGrath is also interviewing students and studying the work produced by students in new media classrooms.