Committee Charge
This committee is charged to:
Charge 1: Continue to identify, examine, and research online writing instruction (OWI) principles and effective strategies in online writing centers and in blended, hybrid, and distance-based writing classrooms, specifically composition classrooms but also including other college-writing or writing-intensive courses.
Charge 2: Continue to identify, examine, and research effective practices for using OWI specifically for English language learners, individuals with physical and/or learning disabilities, and students with socioeconomic challenges in coordination with related CCCC committees.
Charge 3: Maintain and update the Position Statement on the OWI Principles and Effective Practices.
Charge 4: In consultation with the Assessment Committee and other relevant groups, review and update the 2004 Position Statement “Teaching, Learning, and Assessing Writing in Digital Environments.”
Charge 5: Identify and/or create instructional and professional development materials and strategies to be posted on the Committee’s Web-based OWI Open Resource Webpage.
Charge 6: Provide the writing instructional community with access to information about OWI-specific faculty and program development that can assist with legitimizing online teaching for professional development, remuneration, and advancement purposes.
Charge 7: Share effective practices in OWI with the CCCC membership in various formats, including instructional workshops at CCCC conferences and events as well as other professional venues.
- Join the discussion group dedicated to issues of OWI today! (You will need to use your NCTE login information to access the discussion.)
November 2015 Update
The CCCC Committee for Effective Practices in Online Writing Instruction (OWI) is focusing its efforts over the next year on research about student experiences and expectations in hybrid and fully online writing courses, particularly in regard to accessibility. This fall, the committee has launched a pilot version of a survey for OWI students. At the 2016 CCCC in Houston, the Committee will offer several opportunities for members of the writing instruction community to participate in its work, including a half-day pre-conference Wednesday workshop. The committee and its 35-member Expert Panel continue to explore faculty and administrative aspects of OWI as well. It maintains the OWI Open Resource (OR). Through the OR, writing teachers can share specific teaching practices to help each other teach writing online. This work follows from the committee’s publication of A Position Statement of Principles and Example Effective Practices for OWI in spring 2013 and the 2015 book Foundational Practices for OWI (Parlor Press), which was co-edited by committee members Beth Hewett and Kevin DePew.
The State-of-the-Art of OWI
Initial Report of the CCCC Committee for Best Practice in Online Writing Instruction (PDF), April 12, 2011
Fully Online Distance-Based Courses Survey Results
Hybrid/Blended Courses Survey Results
2009 CCCC Session Review
Read a review of the session we presented at the 2009 CCCC Convention titled “CCCC Committee Research into Best Practices for Online Writing Instruction (OWI).”
Annotated Bibliography
The CCCC Committee on Best Practices in Online Writing Instruction has gathered, reviewed, and annotated webtexts, articles, and books from 1980 through early 2008 that help us better understand those approaches and strategies that are most effective in OWI and compiled them into an annotated bibliography (pdf).
