Construction on the PCCC Writing Center on the Paterson Campus was finally completed during the December break and will open for students with the start of the spring semester this month.
Originally slated to open in fall 2008, construction issues delayed the opening by one semester.
The facility is located within the Learning Resource Center and is open weekdays. Check the Writing Center LibGuide for the current operating hours.
January 5, 2009
November 20, 2008
LibGuides and Evolving Learning Spaces
I gave a presentation last week called "TEAR DOWN THE WALLS: LibGuides and Evolving Learning Spaces" at the Northeast Connect Conference.
It was about using LibGuides in an academic setting and utilizing the Web 2.0 options.
I talked about how PCCC first started using LibGuides and the features and then gave a closer look at those features.
Learning spaces continue to evolve as web tools further erase the physical walls of classrooms, libraries and other educational settings.
Though LibGuides, a web 2.0 content management and information sharing system, was designed specifically for libraries, at Passaic County Community College (and other schools) it is being used as a collaborative tool for courses.
This hosted service offers opportunities to create and share reusable content, tagging, widgets, embedded video, RSS, and easy integration with other tools like Delicious and Facebook.
During this summer's Writing Initiative Summer Institute, we gave a hands-on session on creating a LibGuide for our faculty involved in redesigning their courses as "Writing Intensive."
You can view my PowerPoint presentation below and more information about our LibGuide use on our "meta" LibGuide.
It was about using LibGuides in an academic setting and utilizing the Web 2.0 options.
I talked about how PCCC first started using LibGuides and the features and then gave a closer look at those features.
Learning spaces continue to evolve as web tools further erase the physical walls of classrooms, libraries and other educational settings.
Though LibGuides, a web 2.0 content management and information sharing system, was designed specifically for libraries, at Passaic County Community College (and other schools) it is being used as a collaborative tool for courses.
This hosted service offers opportunities to create and share reusable content, tagging, widgets, embedded video, RSS, and easy integration with other tools like Delicious and Facebook.
During this summer's Writing Initiative Summer Institute, we gave a hands-on session on creating a LibGuide for our faculty involved in redesigning their courses as "Writing Intensive."
You can view my PowerPoint presentation below and more information about our LibGuide use on our "meta" LibGuide.
October 21, 2008
Spring 2009 Semester Writing Intensive Courses Open for Registration
Four WI courses are being offered during the upcoming spring 2009 semester.
- EN 205 Introduction to Literature (Mitnick - Paterson)
- PS 101 Introduction to Psychology (Murphy-Wanaque)
- HI 101 Western Civilization I (Jenkins-Online)
- HI 102 Western Civilization II (Drakulich-Paterson)
September 5, 2008
About Writing Intensive Courses at PCCC
What are writing-intensive courses as implemented at PCCC? A writing-intensive course incorporates discipline-specific writing extensively into the course, and the writing contributes significantly to each student's grade. These courses are in many subject areas.
The instructor in a WI course uses writing assignments to promote the learning of the course content, as well as to increase the students' critical thinking and information literacy skills. Instructors use both formal and informal writing assignments.
Courses designated as writing-intensive will:
1. Incorporate frequent informal, short-writing assignments to help students generate ideas and better engage with their learning;
2. Require students to do formal writing assignments, totaling up to no less than 2,500 words (approximately 8-10 typed pages) during the semester;
3. Incorporate research requirements that exercise information literacy competencies in at least one of the writing assignments;
4. Use the same assessment rubric for writing as is used for the CWE scoring;
5. Have a pre-requisite of EN 101;
6. Not be taken concurrently (that is, only one IW course may be taken by a student in any given semester);
7. Have enrollment limited to 25 students; and
8. Be approved by the Office for Academic Affairs.
Upon completion of a writing-intensive course, students should be able to:
The instructor in a WI course uses writing assignments to promote the learning of the course content, as well as to increase the students' critical thinking and information literacy skills. Instructors use both formal and informal writing assignments.
Courses designated as writing-intensive will:
1. Incorporate frequent informal, short-writing assignments to help students generate ideas and better engage with their learning;
2. Require students to do formal writing assignments, totaling up to no less than 2,500 words (approximately 8-10 typed pages) during the semester;
3. Incorporate research requirements that exercise information literacy competencies in at least one of the writing assignments;
4. Use the same assessment rubric for writing as is used for the CWE scoring;
5. Have a pre-requisite of EN 101;
6. Not be taken concurrently (that is, only one IW course may be taken by a student in any given semester);
7. Have enrollment limited to 25 students; and
8. Be approved by the Office for Academic Affairs.
Upon completion of a writing-intensive course, students should be able to:
- Use the process of writing, including pre-writing and revision strategies;
- Support their ideas in writing with specific details and evidence;
- Structure their ideas in an organized format;
- Edit their writing according to the rules of standard academic English;
- Evaluate their sources for credibility and academic appropriateness;
- Employ techniques for integrating information, such as paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting;
- Exhibit the ability to think critically;
- Demonstrate, through their writing, familiarity with the College's standard, evaluative writing rubric; and
- Cite sources using an appropriate documentation style.
August 28, 2008
The Virtual Writing Center
 |
| Wanaque Academic Center |
The under-construction PCCC Writing Center will be physically located on the Paterson campus. Fortunately, all of the WI courses redesigned as part of the Title V program will have online technologies that are important to these groups of students.
The use of eTutoring, Blackboard, LibGuides and ePortfolios are some of additional components of WI courses that Title V can support monetarily by providing software, support and compensation for faculty who choose to participate in the Initiative.
Since WI courses will be offered eventually at all four locations and also online, we are considering more ways to make writing assistance available on the Net through a "virtual" teaching and learning center website.
We are also preparing a schedule to offer face-to-face support at Wanaque to WI courses.
WI courses are scheduled to begin being offered on the Passaic campus in fall 2010.
Of course, all students in these courses from any location will be able to use the Writing Center in Paterson at any time.
August 1, 2008
What's In A Name?
Is a writing-intensive course a WI or an IW course?
Is the CWE different from the old GWE?
The official registration designation, of necessity, is IW, but since the rest of the world refers to these courses as WI - for "writing intensive" - we will continue to use that designation in our resources.
In addition, the PCCC writing exam that is a graduation requirement for all students is getting a new name.
The Graduate Writing Exam (GWE) is now officially the College Writing Exam (CWE).
What's in the exam name change? Our own surveys and statistics show that students perceive of the exam as something they need to do before graduation, and so tend to leave it until their final semesters at the college. A push will be made this year to encourage students to take the exam earlier, and the name change is part of that effort.
Students are eligible to take the College Writing Exam when they have successfully completed Composition II and at least half of their department’s credit requirements for graduation (30 - 35 credits).
It is strongly recommended that students take the CWE as soon as possible after completing these requirements. Students who leave the CWE until the end of their time at PCCC may find themselves unable to graduate due to failure on this exam.
For updated information on the exam, see our CWE LibGuide site at http://pccc.libguides.com/cwe
Is the CWE different from the old GWE?
The official registration designation, of necessity, is IW, but since the rest of the world refers to these courses as WI - for "writing intensive" - we will continue to use that designation in our resources.
The Graduate Writing Exam (GWE) is now officially the College Writing Exam (CWE).
What's in the exam name change? Our own surveys and statistics show that students perceive of the exam as something they need to do before graduation, and so tend to leave it until their final semesters at the college. A push will be made this year to encourage students to take the exam earlier, and the name change is part of that effort.
Students are eligible to take the College Writing Exam when they have successfully completed Composition II and at least half of their department’s credit requirements for graduation (30 - 35 credits).
It is strongly recommended that students take the CWE as soon as possible after completing these requirements. Students who leave the CWE until the end of their time at PCCC may find themselves unable to graduate due to failure on this exam.
For updated information on the exam, see our CWE LibGuide site at http://pccc.libguides.com/cwe
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