MyWritingLab

1. MyWritingLab B. Hughes & R. Brummett, California State University, Bakersfield

2. Table of Contents MyWritingLab Program Overview English 50 English 80 English 100 Humanities/Behavioral Science 277/477 Behind the Scenes Faculty, Staff, and Advisors The OASIS Students

3. MyWritingLab Overview We had four courses that needed redesigning: English 50 – Basic Skills English 80 – Reading &Writing English 100 – Writing & Critical Thinking Humanities/Behavioral Sciences 277 & 477 – Intensive Writing Lab Each one of these courses had problems that we needed to solve.

4. English 50 – Basic Skills Course Description: Designed to help students read, think, organize, and write successfully at the college entry level. This class will assist students in developing and mastering reading and writing skills so they can communicate their ideas effectively and respond capably to college-level materials. English 50 is a summer class for first-time freshmen paid for by multiple grants. English 50 had a mandatory in-class tutoring requirement built into the class. These students met with the tutors every afternoon, four days a week to discuss whatever the instructor wanted. Our problems: What to have the students do in tutoring? How to make the learning & tutoring more consistent for all students? How to give additional support for less-experienced tutors?

5. English 50 – Basic Skills In Summer 2008, we brought in the MyWritingLab program as a tutoring component of the Combined Summer Bridge English classes (English 50) Each teacher was paired with a tutor; this tutor was trained in the program and twice a week would act as MyWritingLab support for the students in the computer labs Students took a diagnostic and then completed 10 topics (recall only) Example topics: Verbs, Fragments, and Pronouns

6. English 80 – Reading & Writing Course Description: Designed to improve reasoning, reading, and writing skills. It helps students build a strong foundation in these skills for successful performance in college. English 80 had a mandatory in-class tutoring requirement built into the class. These students met with a tutor/instructor during a pre-determined lab time once a week to discuss grammar/ writing/mechanics. Our problems: Who would teach these sessions? What about students who don’t have the time to come to the tutoring sessions? How to get the classroom space available?

7. English 80 – Reading & Writing Fall 2007, we piloted the program in one section of 80 as a replacement for the grammar workshop component of the course In Winter & Spring 2008, we expanded our pilot to all three 80 sections being offered; however, we changed the format of the workshop to a hybrid (part online, part meeting in person) In Fall 2008, every section of English 80 began using the program as the grammar workshop component Students in English 80 take a diagnostic test on sentence-level grammar The MyWritingLab Component includes mastery of 10 topics (recall & apply only) – one topic a week Example topics: Verbs, Fragments, and Pronouns

8. English 100 – Critical Thinking & Writing Course Description: Study of rhetorical patterns as critical thinking strategies to help students develop effective college-level writing skills. Frequent short papers in a variety of essay modes are assigned, and the fundamentals of grammar, usage, punctuation, and spelling are reviewed as necessary. English 100 had a grammar/writing mini-lecture requirement built into the class. These students were given a list of twenty mini-lectures (various dates/places/times), and they were required to attend 10 of them. Our problems: What if students can’t come to the mini-lectures? Who will teach these mini-lectures? How to get the classroom space available? How can we control attendance?

9. English 100 – Critical Thinking & Writing In Winter 2008, 5 pilot courses began using MyWritingLab in lieu of the mini-lecture requirement Instead of students going to 10 mini-lectures, they complete the same 10 topics on the program Since they don’t find out about these mini-lectures until the first week of class, students often couldn’t make it to any of these. Now, the students can do their grammar work on their own time, at their own pace. Beginning in Spring 2008, all sections of English 100 used the program as the mini-lecture component The MyWritingLab Component includes mastery of 10 topics (recall & apply only) – one topic a week Example topics: Thesis statements, Essay Development, and Punctuation

10. Humanities/Behavioral Sciences 277/477 – Intensive Writing Lab This course began as a one-unit intensive writing lab that met in person with an instructor 17 hours for one-on-one for grammar/writing help. Our problems: Who can teach this course? How to deal with time-management of instructor as class size increases? How to get classroom space?

11. Humanities/Behavioral Sciences 277/477 Students in 277/477 take four diagnostic tests on grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, spelling, and word choice Students choose any 15 areas (in writing, grammar, and/or mechanics) to master They also have the option to use the Research Navigator program and Smart Thinking Students work at their own pace, on their own time Course is purely online, and is described as a “brush-up” course for students

12. Behind the Scenes