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Learning
Innovations Golden Apple Grant Recipients
Final Reports April 2002
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| TITLE: |
Online
Student Newsletter Dedicated to Publishing ESL Student
Work |
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GRANT RECIPIENTS: |
Helen
Roland, ESL, Kendall Campus
hroland@mdc.edu
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| ABSTRACT: |
This
project develops and puts into operation a photo journal “ezine” (online
magazine) dedicated to publishing a diverse collection
of ESL student writing. It will encourage students to
proofread, edit, and revise their writing. It will be
a cross curriculum project as students integrate the use
of grammar, reading, writing, and speech to reach their
publishing goals. Publishing student work will build self-esteem
and increase motivation. |
| PROJECT
SUMMARY: |
The goal of the
project was to set up and put into operation an online “ezine” which
is dedicated to publishing all kinds of student writing.
A graphic designer was hired to design the graphics for the web
site, which was customized for our mdc students. The “Miami” theme
of the site is dynamic and attractive. Professors in the department
were polled as to their preferences for the designs submitted.
Professors in the department were asked to submit material for
publication. A release form was designed and distributed. Students
are asked to sign a form that permits professors to publish their
work along with a picture on the site. After a delay due to difficulties
that the designers faced, we were able to have the site up and
running by November 1, 2002. The site was linked to our departmental
site on November 11. . As a result of that link, more professors
and students used the site. By the end of December, the site
had received more than 1200 hits.
The project was focused on ESL Students from Kendall Campus who
are enrolled in the English for Academic Purposes program. During
the initial semester of implementation, the site had students
and professors participating from the VESOL program, College
Prep Math and English, as well as the Department of ESL/FL on
Kendall Campus.
An evaluation survey was sent to professors in the Department
of ESL/FL on Kendall Campus, all participating professors, Chris
Delvesco – CT&D, Paul Obato , and Luis Garcia. Suggestions
have been made to improve the site and changes are being made.
Judith Garcia, ESL/FL Chairperson has been active in evaluation
of the site.
The site has proven itself to be interdisciplinary as evidenced
by contributions from Math and English classes from College Prep.
Participation from the VESOL program has been enthusiastic and
fruitful. Plans have been made to have a special issue in June
to report a special trip VESOL students are making to the nation’s
capital. Plans are also being made to actively seek involvement
from other mdc campuses EAP programs. In addition, the site
has been used in our departmental online class development. This
use of the site can be observed at this URL: http://www.mdc.edu/users/jgarcia/1341LdocDone/CreditsPage.htm Student
work from the site is being used to teach other students writing!
We have been using the site in Reading, Speech, Grammar, and
Writing classes. We continue to find more uses for the site as
it grows and more professors become involved.
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| PROJECT
RESULTS: |
The results of
this project can best be seen at the site:
http://www.mdc.edu/kendall/esl/wave/
Copies of our release form, letters that call for contributions,
the evaluation form, and evaluations are attached to this report.
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| PLANS
FOR DISSEMINATION: |
The project will
be shared at the 2003 Professional Development Day as a workshop
for Advancing the Learning Agenda. A committee of participating
professors will take part in this workshop to give testimonies
as to how they are using the site and their hopes for the
future of the site. The site has been shared in our departmental
meetings. A committee has been formed within the department
to collaborate on the website now that funding and release
time has finished. A letter was sent to ESL Chairs on all
campuses asking for contributions to the site. This semester,
I will be actively pursuing the involvement of other campuses.
I hope to find contacts who will be willing to contribute
to the site and coordinate contributions from their respective
campuses. |
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