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Fri, Nov 7, 2:00 - 2:25, Pueblo B Paper (refereed)

Recommended Citation: Maurino, P S M. Writing to Learn and Writing in the Disciplines: Enhancing Computer and Technical Classes. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2008, v 25 (Phoenix): §2522. ISSN: 1542-7382.

Writing to Learn and Writing in the Disciplines: Enhancing Computer and Technical Classes

Refereed

5 pages

Paula San Millan Maurino    [a1] [a2]
Computer Systems Department
Farmingdale State College    [u1] [u2]
Farmingdale, New York, USA    [c1] [c2]

This paper describes the implementation, process and results of adding a writing intensive component developed through a WID (Writing in the Disciplines) program to a 200 level course in Web design and development in the Computer Systems Department of the School of Business at Farmingdale State College. Department culture and philosophy about the changes mandated by the WID program are also discussed. The course’s goals and objectives were technical and could not be changed. Students were to learn Dreamweaver, Fireworks and Flash and use these software programs to create Websites that met research-grounded usability, functionality and design criteria. All writing assignments had to be linked to the course goals and objectives and related to what the students were to do in class and at home. The writing assignments were constructed to promote learning of the course material and to show how to present this material online as opposed to on paper. The key to success was found to be process writing, integration of the writing assignments with the course project and objectives, and extensive peer review. The key to success in the department was found to be an evolving awareness that writing can be used to enhance and support learning in technical classes.

Keywords: WAC, writing across the curriculum, WID, writing in the disciplines, process writing, peer review, writing to learn

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