My research method was to gather 20 example syllabi of online, distance learning freshman writing courses at accredited community colleges and four-year institutions through a subject search in Lycos using the terms "distance learning courses." A list of the institutions appears below. After collecting the first twenty sample syllabi I came across, I contacted the professors via e-mail and asked them three questions: 1) Are your online courses more or less student-centered than the conventional courses you have taught in the past or are currently teaching? 2) Is there more or less collaboration in your online courses? 3) Is there more or less discussion? 10 teachers responded to my e-mail requests, and 7 of those responses are used in this article.

Institutions surveyed:

Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana.

Bemidji State University, Bemidji, Minnesota.

Blue Ridge Community College, Weyers Cave, Virginia.

Bucks County Community College, Newton, Pennsylvania.

Brevard Community College, Cocoa, Florida.

Community College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada.

De Anza Community College, Cupertino, California.

Delta College, University Center, Michigan.

George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia.

Howard Community College, Columbia, Maryland.

Lincoln Land Community College, Springfield, Illinois.

Pitt Community College, Greenville, North Carolina.

Prince George Community College, Largo, Maryland.

San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California.

University of Minnesota, Morris, Minnesota.

University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.

Thomas Nelson Community College, Hampton, Virginia.
 
 

 

Currents in Electronic Literacy Fall 1999 (2), <http://www.cwrl.utexas.edu/currents/fall99/melzer/>