Introduction. Current Course Structure. Currently, the course requirements for Composition I include: The completion of Five 3-4 page essays

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1 University of North Texas Learning Enhancement Grant Application 1. Project Title Proposal to Develop Online Version of Core English Composition Courses 2. Project Kathryn Rosser Raign coordinator 3. Project abstract Currently, the University of North Texas English department offers no online writing courses. In order to meet the needs of students who may not be able to successfully complete a course that requires that they be on campus a minimum of three hours per week, I propose offering two of the department s core courses, English 1310: Composition I, and English 1320: Composition II online. The university currently loses many students to area community colleges because students are forced to choose based on location rather than on the quality of education. By offering composition I and II, courses required by the majority of UNT students, online, the university will be able to offer students who live in outlying areas the opportunity to take these important core courses from UNT s highly trained staff of English instructors. 4. Description of the project Introduction Currently, the University of North Texas English department offers no online writing courses. In order to meet the needs of students who may not be able to successfully complete a course that requires that they be on campus a minimum of three hours per week, I propose offering two of the department s core courses, English 1310: Composition I, and English 1320: Composition II online. The university currently loses many students to area community colleges because students are forced to choose based on location rather than on the quality of education. By offering composition I and II, courses required by the majority of UNT students, online, the university will be able to offer students who live in outlying areas the opportunity to take these important core courses from UNT s highly trained staff of English instructors. Current Course Structure Currently, the course requirements for Composition I include: The completion of Five 3-4 page essays Completion of a Writer s Notebook, which must include the following: Prewriting exercises 1

2 Drafts of papers Revisions Comments from peer reviewers. Participation in a minimum of 5 peer review sessions. Extensive group exercises. A minimum of two teacher conferences. The course requirements for Composition II include: Completion of Two 3-5 pages essays Completion of a research portfolio o Outline of research project o Annotated bibliography o Notecards o Abstracts Completion of 8-10 page research paper These requirements were designed to meet the Exemplary Educational Outcomes designed by the SACS coordinating board. Currently, this work is completed both in-class, with the instructor s assistance, and outside of class. The students meet with the instructor in the instructor s office, and all materials are turned in as hard copies. Integration of Technology In order to ensure that the course retains its academic integrity, we intend to continue using the existing criteria; however, the fact that course is being offered online will alter how we achieve these goals. We will use two tools: WebCT This online educational tool is used by UNT and supported by the Center for Distributed Learning. MOO A MOO is an on-line chat room environment that provides a space for students and teachers to meet synchronously online. The creators of the Acadiana MOO have allowed us to have access to their MOO until we create our own. They will not charge us for this service. Students will meet with the instructor in the MOO two times a week for 80 minutes in the designated cyber classroom. At this time the 2

3 instructor will discuss assigned readings, writing assignments, and group work. Attendance at these meetings is required. The materials that the students need, other than the book, which must be purchased before the class begins, will be available in WebCT Vista: Syllabus Course Policies Assignments Power Point Presentations In-box for turning in materials Bulletin board for posting messages Grammar and Punctuation Exercises The students will also be responsible for meeting with their assigned group at other times, in order to complete group work. This group work will be submitted and discussed during scheduled online class times. The course criteria will be met in the following manner: The completion of Five 3-4 page essays Students will write their papers using computers, and will submit them to the instructor electronically. The instructor s WebCT Vista course will include a specific location for papers. Completion of a Writer s Notebook, which must include the following: Prewriting exercises Drafts of papers Revisions Comments from peer reviewers. Rather than turning in a standard hard covered notebook, the students will create electronic folders for each of the categories above and will store their material in these folders. At the end of the semester, the students will submit this work electronically. Extensive group exercises. When doing group work, the instructor will have the students meet and work in a MOO an online chatroom environment, in which instructors can create virtual rooms. By using the MOO, the instructor will have the option to either participate or listen and can keep a recorded transcript of the sessions to ensure that each student is participating appropriately. The instructor will create the groups, then allow the students in each group to select a 3

4 time to meet. The students will provide the instructor with this information so that he or she can attend. Participation in a minimum of 5 peer review sessions. When peer editing, the students can either meet as a group in a pre-selected location in the MOO, or they can work via . Again the instructor will play a role in facilitating these meetings, and he or she will review the transcripts of the meetings. A minimum of two teacher conferences. Conclusion Each instructor will have a cyber office that students can visit either voluntarily or by appointment. As with a standard office, each instructor will hold designated office hours. Each class will also have a cyber classroom in which the students can meet to work or talk, as well as a cyber library, where the instructor can store reading material for the students. Rather than limiting the amount of contact between the student and teacher, the students will actually have more direct one-to-one contact with their instructors. Furthermore, because all communications, and conversations must be written, the students will exponentially increase the amount of writing they produce over the course of the semester. 5. Coordinator s experience with teaching online 6. Additional faculty or staff members on project 7. Department funding commitments 8. Number of students projected in class/program Dr. Raign has participated in the creation and management of two freshman composition computerized classrooms, but she has never taught an online course. Brant Deranger is a PhD candidate who has given presentations on the integration of technology into the writing process. None available. Class No. of students projected 1310: Composition I (Fall 2005) : Composition II (Spring 2006) Market surveys or analysis conducted By not providing online composition courses, UNT is failing to compete with other Texas Universities that do offer such courses. Comparable universities offering online courses include: 4

5 Texas Woman s University University of Texas at Arlington Texas A&M Commerce Texas Tech University 10. Marketing plan In order to market these courses, we will speak with advisors across campus, and make them aware of this new option. We will also announce the development of these new courses at new student orientation. Finally, we will post information regarding the new courses, on the English Department s website. 11. Evaluation plan for the course(s) or program 12. Timetable for course development As a member of the University Core Assessment Committee, Dr. Raign is responsible for assessing both 1310 and 1320 the courses being proposed as online courses. She will implement the same methods for assessing these courses that she currently uses to assess the current classroom based versions of theses courses. See attachment. Activity or accomplishment: Date: Develop Course Model for Summer I Develop Course Model for Summer II Teach 2 sections of 1310 Fall 2005 Teach 2 sections of 1320 Spring Budget Item or expense Equipment or software (list) Cost: 2 Laptops the computers currently provided to faculty and staff by the English department do not have the necessary technical components or mobility to allow the instructors of the proposed courses to effectively teach the courses outlined in this proposal. Wages (show number of hours and hourly rate) 2 student $10 an hour for an average of 405 hours covering the period of Summer I 2005 through Spring $3,000 $ (To be paid by course fees in future. 5

6 Summer faculty release time salary 14. Intellectual Property Agreement (For online courses) Kathryn Raign 2 course $10, (One time fee) release Brant Deranger 2 course $ (One time fee) release Total LEG Funds Requested $26,600 Course Faculty Member Date Signed 1310/1320 Kathryn Raign 15. Planning Activities 16. Center for Distributed Learning Certification 17. Approval (signatures) Date that project participants received or will receive CDL s certificate for web-based courseware (For Technology Priority): Project design is feasible Wages are appropriate and equitable Participant: Kathryn Raign Brant Deranger Course or program approval process has been followed Course fees for distributed learning courses, if necessary, have been requested Department Chair: Dean: Date Received Spring 2005 (Dates have not been announced.) 6