This virtual workshop was offered on May 7th, 2020 by the AWAC Mentoring Committee and was led by Marty Townsend (University of Missouri Emerita) and Chris Anson (North Carolina State University). The relationship between writing and learning has been a fundamental part of the WAC movement from its beginnings. When students write frequently and informally about the material of their courses, they experience deeper learning—stronger analysis, synthesis, and integration of ideas—and enhanced reading processes (Graham & Hebert, 2010). And when this low-stakes writing is woven into the fabric of their courses, class sessions can be more engaging and socially dynamic. In this interactive workshop, Marty Townsend and Chris Anson explained the theoretical orientation of writing to learn, including distinctions between writing to learn and more formal, higher-stakes writing, and then engaged participants in methods for designing and evaluating effective, learning-based writing assignments and integrating them into their courses to enhance student engagement.

As Chris Thaiss and Tara Porter wrote a decade ago, more than half of the 418 WAC programs that they studied either failed or were significantly reconstituted (2010, p. 558). Recent pressures due to budget cuts, the effects of Covid-19, and rapidly shifting priorities in higher education have further threatened the sustainability of WAC programs at the same time as these challenges have highlighted their importance. This workshop will examine ways to keep WAC programs thriving, including the formulation of strategic plans with stakeholder input, aligning program goals with campus priorities, using SWOT analyses to mitigate external threats with internal strengths, and the ability to be flexible in order to meet changing campus needs.

AWAC members are invited to attend the next virtual workshop in the WAC pedagogy series. Please register for the event here. Register by 5:00 ET on March 30th. (Zoom link will be sent to participants before the event.) Questions? Please contact AWAC Mentoring Committee member Joanna Johnson ude.imaim@nosnhojsj ta. Workshop Session Descriptions 1. Conformity or Equity?: […]