Transforming Online Teaching: A Multifaceted Perspective of Cyber Content and Communities

• In Event: Roundtable Session 95
  In Roundtable Session: Making Productive Use of New Instructional Techniques for Teacher Professional Development

Abstract

This case study examines the transformation of a face-to-face graduate level literacy course to an online format. As attitudes towards online courses vary among students and professors, we (the researchers) questioned the effectiveness of this format, particularly in the delivery of the content and the creation of classroom community. We each wrote reflexive ethnographies describing our experiences with mentoring, teaching, and learning how to provide these literacy teachers in a format consistent with philosophy underpinning the face-to-face class. In addition, research methods included student surveys and focus groups. Finally, we examined and compared course artifacts. Results of this study indicate that the integrity of content and community remained, although through a different, and often difficult path.

Author

• Nancy L. Williams, University of South Florida