Writersworld

An Internet-Based English Tutorial

For

NCC Community College

Overview of Problem

Tutoring Center must use resources more efficiently:

Increase tutor time directly spent working with students.

Use excess time working on an online tutoring program.

Students increasing demand for more flexible

tutoring services:

24/7 tutoring that caters to learner needs and preferences

Recommendations

Form core team from tutors and supervisory staff in Tutoring Centers.

Request volunteers from faculty and IT staff to devote minimal amounts of time working with the core team.

Pick one subject/topic to begin. Design, Pilot, & Evaluate

NCC’s Tutoring Center Goals & MissionsActive Learning = Interactive ExercisesInteraction / Discussion = Blogs & Tutor

Appointments

Learner Diversity NeedsOptions for visual, auditory, & kinesthetic learners

(VARK) = Podcasts, Exercises, & Text-Based Instruction

Navigation: simple, natural, reversible, user controlInstructional Explanations for students with different

knowledge bases.

Content Analysis

Content Analysis - ResearchSorden’s Instructional Design Principles

Worked-out examples Partially worked-out examples Non-redundant audio & visualInstructional explanations linked to but

separate from exercisesMayer’s Instructional Design Principles

Text near picturesConversational narration Eliminate unnecessary materialUser-control

Podcasts – audio & visual instructional explanations

Chunked based on level and background knowledge.

Sense of ‘presence’Conversational style: mimic tutoring session

Tutor only Tutor with student

Blogs – discussion & interaction with peers & tutors

Tutors actively initiate, facilitate, and foster student involvement

Instructional Applications

Welcome! How can we help you?

Click on the blue buttons to read more about the topic or the red link to listen to information about

the topic.

Writers’ WorldNCC Online Tutoring

Home•Writing Papers•Punctuation•Grammar•Citation

•More Resources•Contact a Tutor•Instructor Sites•Blogs

Site Map

Search

Home Sitemap Recent site activity Terms Report Abuse Print | Powered by Google Sites

Writing Papers

Punctuation

Grammar

Citation

More Resources

Instructor Sites

Contact a Tutor

Blogs

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

< < Read Listen > >

Main page provides users with different

search options

Type word into search to

locate desired topic

Click blue buttons to read about

topics addressed in category

Click red button to listen to

description of topics addressed

in category

See complete directory of all topics

in Site Map

http://sites.google.com/site/writersworldsite/

http://sites.google.com/site/writersworldsite/system/app/pages/sitemap/hierarchy

http://sites.google.com/site/writersworldsite/system/app/pages/recentChanges

http://sites.google.com/

Writing Papers >

Writers’ WorldNCC Online Tutoring

Click to Return to Homepage

Click on Writing Papers to find answers to these questions and more:

• I have to write a paper. How do I get started?• I have to find information for my paper. Where should I

search?• I’m having trouble organizing my ideas. What should I

do?• I need to revise my paper. How do I find problems and fix

them?• I have to write a summary. How is that different from an

essay?• I have to use a header with page numbers. How do I do

that in Word?• I have to write a 5-paragraph essay. How do I write an

introduction?• I need to write a strong thesis statement. What does that

mean?• I need to use transitions between paragraphs. What are

transitions?

For a full list of all topics covered in Writing Papers, click on Writing Papers on the Homepage or click here.

When users click on blue buttons next to categories on home page, they open up a page with information about the

topics discussed written in conversational question format.

Writers’ WorldNCC’s Online Tutoring Webpage



•Blogs•Contact a Tutor•Instructor Sites•More Resources

Site Map

Search


Run-ons

Click on your preference.

Read Explanations

1. Get Started

2. Refresh My Memory

3. Review

Listen to Explanations

4. Get Started

5. Refresh My Memory

6. Review

Home > Writing Papers > Revising > Common Errors > Run-ons

In each topic, users may read instructional

explanations with examples and links to exercises

. . .

. . . or they may listen to instructional podcasts

with visuals of examples or mock tutoring

sessions.








Site Map

Search


Run-ons >> Listen

1. Get StartedLevel 1 – A: Understanding Sentence Parts – Nouns & Pronouns as Subjects

Level 1 – B: Understanding Sentence Parts - Verbs

Level 1 – C: Complete Sentences / Independent Clauses

Level 1 – D: Parts that are independent and parts that are not

2. Refresh My MemoryLevel 2 – A: Fixing run-ons – Option 1 = Periods

Level 2 – B: Fixing run-ons – Option 2 = Commas with coordinating conjunctions

Level 2 – C: Fixing run-ons – Option 3 = Semicolons

Level 2 – D: Fixing run-ons – Option 4 = Change in word choice or sentence structure

3. Review

Level 3 – A: Quick review of several options for fixing run-ons.

Home > Writing Papers > Revising > Common Errors > Run-ons > Listen

Each topic is separated into three

different levels. Users are asked to

consider their previous knowledge and experience with

the topic when deciding where they

want to start. In addition, the

podcasts are divided into shorter chunks giving users more

choice in identifying where they may prefer to start.








Site Map

Search


Run-ons – Refresh My Memory – Level 2 – A

Click the blue icon to listen and watch the podcast.

2. Refresh My MemoryLevel 2 – A: Fixing run-ons – Option 1 = Periods

Click to see the original and revised versions of the student’s essay or work on finding and fixing run-ons in the Exercises.

Sample Essay

Revised Essay

Exercises

Home > Writing Papers > Revising > Common Errors > Run-ons > Listen > Level 2 - A

Comments Did you find this helpful?

Each podcast and text-

based instructional page allows

users to comment on

their experience and offer

suggestions for

improvement.








Site Map

Search


Blogs

1. Run-ons Click on the following link:

http://writersworldblog.blogspot.com

Home > Blogs

Blog links offer users the opportunity to engage in

discussions about topics related to writing and ask questions seeking

peer and tutor feedback.





http://writersworldblog.blogspot.com/

Evaluation Measures•Evaluation will include a student survey which students will randomly be asked to

complete before exiting the program. A set of 10 questions will gather information about the origin of users’ knowledge of the site, learning preferences, use of applications, and intentions for future use.

•In addition, analytics options will be set to track frequency of use, duration of use, and number of clicks to specific pages hosting podcasts, written tutorials, links etc….

References

Anderson, J. R., Corbett, A. T., Koedinger, K. R., & Pelletier, R. (1995) Cognitive Tutors:

Lessons Learned. Journal of the Learning Sciences, 4(2), 167-207.

Arkin, M., Eisenberg, N., & Peters, A. (2001) Developing a Hybrid Tutoring Model in an Urban

Community College. Retrieved January 22, 2009 from Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database.

Bryant, T., (2006) Social Software in Academia. EduCause Quarterly 29(2) Retrieved March 24,

2009 from the World Wide Web: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0627.pdf.

Church, G. M., (1999) The Human-Computer Interface and Information Literacy: Some Basics

and Beyond. Information Technology and Libraries. (1) Retrieved November 10, 2008

from Gale Group database.

Dvorak, J., (2004) Managing Tutoring Aspects of the Learning Assistance Center. Research for

Educational Reform. 9(4) 39-51. Retrieved January 23, 2009 from Academic Search

Complete Database.

Educause. (2006) 7 Things You Should Know About Blogs. Educause. Retrieved March 22,

2009 from the World Wide Web: http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7006.pdf.

Harbeck, J., Schweizer, M., & Pienkowski, N. (1998) Developing a Computer Assisted Tutorial:

A Beginner’s Experience. Retrieved January 22, 2009 from Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database.

Kaplan-Leiserson, E. (2005) Trend: Podcasting in Academic and Corporate Learning. ASTD

Learning Circuits. Retrieved March 22, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.astd.org/LC/2005/0605_kaplan.htm.

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/EQM0627.pdf

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7006.pdf

http://www.astd.org/LC/2005/0605_kaplan.htm

http://www.astd.org/LC/2005/0605_kaplan.htm

. . . references continued

LaPadula, M. (2003) A Comprehensive Look at Online Student Support Services for Distance Learners. American Journal of Distance Education 17(2) 119. Retrieved January 23, 2009 from Academic Search Complete Database.

Ramaswami, R. (2008) The Prose of Blogging (and a Few Cons, Too). The Journal: Transforming Education Through Technology. Retrieved March 18, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23562.

Seely-Brown, J. (2008) Learning in the Digital Age. Retrieved April 4, 2009 from the World Wide Web: http://www.johnseelybrown.com/learning_in_digital_age-aspen.pdf.

Sheard, J., & Lynch, J. (2003) Accommodating Learner Diversity in Web-based LearningEnvironments: Imperatives for Future Developments. International Journal of Computer Processing of Oriental Languages. 16(4) 243-260.

Sorden, S. D. (2005) A Cognitive Approach to Instructional Design For Multimedia Learning. Informing Science Journal. 8 (pp. 263-279).

Wittwer, J. & Renkl, A. (2008) Why Instructional Explanations Often Do Not Work. Educational Psychologist 43(1) 49-64.

http://www.thejournal.com/articles/23562

http://www.johnseelybrown.com/learning_in_digital_age-aspen.pdf