English Composition 100: Best Practices for Online Instruction

• Main Author: Makhanlall, David Paschal Narendra
• Format: Others
• Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2014
• Subjects: English Composition; Multimedia in Online Instruction; English Composition Online; Art and Design; Arts and Humanities; Interdisciplinary Arts and Media
• Online Access: http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/619; http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1618&context=etd

The objective of this dissertation is to explore the process of teaching English Composition in the asynchronous online format and to make recommendations for the best possible approach for continued student success. The teaching of English Composition is a complex subject and no two teachers will have the same approach. This matter is further complicated when online instruction is explored. An instructor cannot transplant an in-class course into the online format and expect the same results. This dissertation explores the best possible approach to teaching English Composition in an online environment with the use of multimedia applications. This exploration will address current methods of teaching English Composition online, will evaluate what seems to work well, will explore the concerns highlighted by educators and practitioners involved with English Composition online, and will highlight additional recommended advancements, both in methods of approach and technological innovations, that can bring to light instructional practices for further evaluation. This study will lead to an understanding of what these new emerging technologies are and the specifics of their use by both instructors and students alike online, and it will identify best practices in teaching English Composition online for the immediate future.