Institute/Session Summary:

The purpose of this presentation is to share one department’s journey of incorporating on-line learning in the college reading classroom with other faculty. Colleges are increasingly asking departments to offer alternative modes of instructional delivery as a means of controlling costs. We will focus on those aspects of online instruction that lead to positive learning outcomes while considering the time and emotional investments of both students and instructors.   (See references at end of document.)

Learner outcomes will include:

• Develop a possible time line that instructors could follow as they begin to incorporate on-line learning.
• Describe one reading department's experiences using on-line learning activities.
• Explain positive outcomes of certain aspects of on-line learning so others have an idea of what works well.
• Understand negative outcomes of certain activities so that others do not need to repeat.
• Field questions and promote discussion about on-line learning in the reading classroom.
  

The on-line learning components allow a greater variance of learning styles to be accommodated within one classroom, allow students to complete assignments from a distance, allow absent students to stay up to date with what happened in the classroom, and allow for interactions among more students than might otherwise have been possible.  Students are forced to do more reading and reflecting as they interact with other students in the on-line discussion board area.  There is still a “digital divide” for many minority, low-income and older students and the use of this technology in the reading classroom readies them for future college requirements.

The presenters are all experienced in delivering instruction on-line in their reading classrooms. Some presenters use online delivery to enrich their normal face to face classrooms while others have created and teach hybrid developmental or college reading courses.  Each of the panel presenters will give a 10-minute overview of their use of on-line learning activities in their developmental and/or college-level reading courses.  We will use the LCD projector/computer to demonstrate how we incorporate the Desire 2 Learn (our college’s course management delivery system) news notes, content, discussion board/groups, and drop box into the curriculum.

We will hand out overview slides of our presentation, which will include references to other web sites and appropriate research.

The second half of the hour will be open to participation from the audience so that we can all share experiences both positive and negative of the virtual reading classroom.

Beeghly, D. G. (2005). It's about time: Using electronic literature discussion groups with adult learners. Journals of Adolescent & Adult Literacy.
            49, 12-21.

Flippo, R.F., & Caverly, D.C. (2000). Handbook of college reading and study strategy research.  Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum
           
Hanna, D. E., Glowacki-Dudka, M., & Conceição-Runlee, S. (Eds.). (2000). 147 practical tips for teaching online groups:
             essentials of Web-based education. Madison, WI: Atwood Publishing.

Harrington, T., Staffo, M., & Wright, V. H. (2006). Faculty uses of and attitudes toward a course mamagement system in improving instruction.
            Journal of Interactive. Online Learning. 5, 178-190.
 
Stahl, N.A., & Boylan, H. (2003).  Teaching developmental reading: Historical, theoretical, and practical background readings.
             Boston: Bedford, St. Martin’s Press.

Williams, C. (2002). Learning on-line: A review of recent literature in a rapidly expanding field. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 26, 263-272.

Presenter1 Name: Sherry Dilley
Presenter1 Institution: Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Presenter1 Bio: BS, Minnesota State University, Mankato
MS, Minnesota State University, Mankato

Presenter2 Name: Ann Ludlow
Presenter2 Institution: Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Presenter2 Bio: BS, University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities
MA, University Of Minnesota-Twin Cities

Presenter3 Name: Melissa O'Connor
Presenter3 Institution: Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Presenter3 Bio: BS, Iowa State University
MS, Drake University