Introduction

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusions

References

Results

The majority of the national survey responses came from individuals working at Public Research Universities, Four-Year Public Institutions, and Two-Year Community Colleges (see Figure 2). Local survey respondents teach at a comprehensive public university.

Fig. 2. National Survey Respondent Institutions

Individuals who identified themselves as either instructors or adjuncts accounted for 30% of all national survey respondents. Graduate Teaching Assistants accounted for 27% of all respondents, followed by Assistant Professors at 16% (Figure 3).

Note that some national respondents reported teaching online at multiple institutions and having held multiple ranks while teaching online.

Fig. 3. National Survey Respondent Position Titles

Local survey respondents included one Associate Professor, one Assistant Professor, and three Instructors.

Figure 4 shows that the majority of national survey respondents use either WebCT or Blackboard course management systems for teaching writing online, the same "major players" identified by Blakelock and Smith (2006). Note that some respondents reported using multiple programs in their online teaching.

Fig. 4. Tools Used by National Survey Respondents to Teach Writing Online

All local survey respondents use the WebCT Vista course management system when teaching writing online.

Which Writing Courses Are Being Offered Online?

The national and local survey results reveal that Introduction to Composition (i.e., some variety of first-year writing) and Technical Writing are the courses that the largest number of respondents reported teaching online (see Figure 5).

Note that some respondents teach multiple courses online.