DR C's Academic Online Cruise: Week Two—Testing Trainees and Argumentation Topics

To read the initial post about DR C's Academic Online Cruise, go HERE.  

DR C—CAPTAIN'S LOG
ADVANCED ENGLISH COMPOSITION 102
ONBOARD AND ONLINE—WEEK TWO: JANUARY 20 to JANUARY 26 

ONBOARD—WEEK TWO
Day One 

Well, my plan to write in this blog at the end of each week has not come to fruition. I find that the first week of paper checking and other responsibilities as a captain have made it difficult to do. However, here I am, now, reporting “fer duty.”

I do my best to return graded papers as soon as possible. Generally, I have papers graded and returned by the next class session. Knowing that this first set may need me to make several detailed comments on the content presentation and marking of grammatical and mechanics errors, I am glad I have had the whole weekend to check these papers.

Experience has taught me that, most of the time, the first paper is not the most stellar. And checking these papers takes time. At least for me, even the best paper takes me about thirty (30) minutes. 

For me, just writing a few phrases of praise or pointing out an issue is not sufficient. I use a rubric and use it as a guide for my trainees to follow in addition to my comments and markings. One of the ways that I show my commitment to this marriage is my thorough effort in the checking of my trainees’ papers.

Also, as shared earlier, I am extremely committed to working on retention. Besides the use of a metaphor that works to develop some kind of unity among the trainees, research can be valuable. 

Testing the Trainees

I use two testing instruments that I used during my doctoral studies. One of the instruments addresses the issue of academic motivation. The other deals with the issue of one’s perception of how much a student feels a responsibility for outcomes.

DR C's Academic Online Cruise: Week One—Instructing the Crew

To read the initial post about DR C's Academic Online Cruise, go HERE.

DR C—CAPTAIN'S LOG

ADVANCED ENGLISH COMPOSITION 102
ONBOARD AND ONLINE— WEEK ONE: JANUARY 13 to JANUARY 19

ONBOARD—WEEK ONE
Day One

After the first week, instead of having 20 onboard trainees (students), there are twenty-five (25). Nice! There are eleven (11) males and fifteen (14) females. 

Preview book HERE

On the first day, I review the basics of college theme writing. Recently, some have had training on a 101 ship; for others, it has been a little while. So that no one will be at a disadvantage, this is the purpose of the review. I encourage they read Chapter 6 of the handbook, Bare Essentials, 18th ed. This will insure everyone has the opportunity to review the same material, not just via lecture but via written material, too. I recognize that some trainees need to depend on more than their notes; thus, actually reading what has been presented at a training session should help.

Then, to prepare my trainees for the Thursday writing assignment, which will be done in class, I discuss the topic and ways they may want to approach the topic. 

This assignment will be based on Chapters 1, 4, and 5 of the other text for this cruise, Linguistics for College Freshmen and Sophomores: Non Majors, Welcome! These chapters discuss the impact of language, the different registers, the manner in which people code switch to accommodate the requirements of their linguistic environment, and manners in which language is acquired. 

Preview book HERE

They are to write a five-paragraph theme on the following: Indicate the main message about language is conveyed in Chapter 1, Chapter 4, and Chapter 5 of Linguistics for College Freshmen and Sophomores.

They can bring any notes they may have placed in their texts or written in their notebooks that they feel may help them in the writing of the paper. They are not, however, supposed to have the paper written before coming to this do this assignment.

Also, in this first session, I distribute the regular “stuff”: syllabus and class policies. The third page of the policies has a section where each trainee has to print and sign his or her name acknowledging they understand and agree with the policies for this cruise.

I make it clear if anyone does not agree with the policies that she or he should not choose to continue on the cruise. Thus, I do not accept the signed policies until the second day that each person attends a session. I want to make sure they understand what they are signing. This class policies sheet serves as the “marriage certificate.” 

DR. C's Academic Online Cruise Ship: The SS FORAGER, Has Set Sail!

DR C—CAPTAIN'S LOG: JANAURY 13, 2019

So, Here I Am, Again

Some of you have sailed with me in previous cruises, the Creative Writing Cruise and/or the Blog Online 102 Cruise. For those of you new to this blog cruise, you will see that I see teaching as a cruise and my students are trainees preparing to become future captains. 

I function as the Captain. You may call me, "Captain C." I have fifteen weeks to get these rookies ready to transfer or pass out of this advanced training of English 102 (Advanced English Composition). I am looking forward to the challenge and experience. 

So, here I am, again, using an established metaphor and launching a new one. I am looking forward to this cruise. My schedules (syllabi) are ready. And the SS Forager is poised to go. 

And why is this academic line called the “Forager”? A forager is one that hunts and gathers. And as Captain C, I shall work to lead trainees to hunt for information and gather this information to help them learn and put to use the knowledge to help not only themselves personally but to serve others whom they touch professionally.

Our "Onboard" and "Online" Meeting Times

I refer to the students who come to my English 102 class as my "onboard trainees." I refer to students who are taking my English 102 online as my "online trainees." The onboard trainees meet twice a week. The online trainees have one three-hour session per week. 

As you can presume, the onboard trainees and I have different meeting times than the online trainees. My onboard trainees meet for a total of three (3) hours during a week on a Tuesday and Thursday. My online trainees have no particular day and time to meet. However, there are specific times when these trainees must complete reading and writing assignments as well as tasks.

My current records state I shall be responsible to train twenty (20) captains-in-trainee on board of this academic cruise line and twenty-five (25) captains-in-trainee online. Having years of experience as a full captain teaching both on ship and online, I have recognized the challenges when teaching to trainees on board and online. 

Different metaphors must be used; still, the content will be the same. It is the approach that must differ and serve as a motivating factor for each group of trainees. 

Dr. C's Academic Online Cruise, Part 2 : Week 1-The Composition Cruise

My first academic writing "cruise" was a success. I really enjoyed the journey with my "crew."This is the first time that I taught a course in this manner. At the end of the creative writing course, we were able to publish a book of my students' writings, titled, Community College Students’ Literary Collage.  

I am planning to document the voyage as I did for my first training cruise. My blog is still available for those of you who are interested in how I managed to steer our first adventure. To read it, click HERE. 

This time around, I am teaching a Composition course, this time around, it's a digital course. I am using the metaphor of a cruise for my course. I am the "captain" of the ship and my students are the "crew." I am responsible for making sure that they learn how to work on this training ship so that they can sail on their own academic ships and become writers with something substantive to share. 

As captain, my goal is to enhance my students' writing skill. I will be keeping a log of our journey each week to note our progress. Here is my first installment: 

MAY 6, 2015 PRE-WEEK AND WEEK ONE

The Winter Cruise was completed on May 1; commencement ceremony was on May 2. Then, the new semester began on May 6.

Well, as Captain, I shall not be taking anyone on the ship. There are several who would want to be trained on the ship, but personal circumstances do not allow for this. So, instead of my having crewmembers actually on the ship, I shall be holding sessions digitally. So, I shall use my Spring and Summer just cruising with a trained crew. I plan to let the First Officer gain experience by commanding this Spring/Summer cruise. And I shall focus on working with my digital crewmembers.

After the commencement ceremony, I immediately began preparing for the digital crew. Some of the digital crewmembers have taken digital training for basics in English 101. So, several recognize that taking an online course is more challenging than one may think. And having commandeered several digital training sessions, I know that it is very important to have announcements and files prepared and available for online crew. Some are anxious and will contact me a few days before the session is scheduled to begin. So, I really have to be “on my toes.”

Introduction to Dr. C's Academic Cruises

Cruises have specific destinations. So, do academic courses. I have an understanding of the objectives of the course. However, I plan to explore these objectives in different ways that will enhance the creative skills of my students. As the professor of this creative writing course, this blog will share my experiences as captain/professor and those of my twenty (20) crew/students. 

As "captain" of this academic cruise, I was responsible to make sure my students learned how to work on this training ship so that they can sail on their own academic ships and become writers with something substantive to share. 

I was looking forward to the first day this ship launched, which was in January 2015. We cruised until May, when the course ended. Before we disembarked, each crewmember presented a final that was exemplary. Two in particular made an extremely significant impression, so much so that I asked both if I could use their works to begin a Short Story series on the MANA SUNRISER, the blog for MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA), the self-publishing and marketing company where I also serve as writing coach. (Click on the MANAs SHORT STORY SERIES titles at the top of the MANA SUNRISER to read the short stories of my crew members). 

I had conferences with my crew, and to my delight, my crew members had positive things to say about their journey. One student wrote:  

I’ve learned to look at my own writing objectively. There was a time I didn’t respond well to having my writing critiqued negatively. I felt quite secure in the knowledge that my writing was better than most and required no substantial improvements. This, of course, has turned out not to be the case.

Another student wrote: 

I’ve seen the beautiful work I can create if I step outside of my comfort zone. Writing what was unfamiliar to me forced me to new subject matter and utilized new perspective. In doing so I’ve  created some things that I’m really happy with.

During our cruise, I had my crew members submit their best work for publication. At the end of the session, I presented to each member his/her own gratis copy of Community College Students’ Literary Collage. Yes, within this semester I was able to take their work, have it reviewed and recommended, or not, by a review board member, proofed, edited (always maintaining the writer’s voice), and submitted to the printer to yield this fine collection of short stories for children, short stories for adults, poetry, and short plays.

I believe so very strongly that if one believes in his/her crew (students’ skills) that individual must do more than just chit chat about it or tell them they are doing a good job. So, having the blessing to fulfill dual roles as a professor (captain) and publisher, I had the resources to make their work come to fruition as a professionally published piece that will be marketed to more than those just at their college. Their book is showcased and available to be purchased on the MarketingNewAuthors.com website. 

Most of the profit of this work will go to this crew’s college. Indeed, I am proud and so very humbled to have been the captain of the crew members of this Academic Cruise for Winter 2015.  

I plan to take another cruise, next time it will be an "online cruise." Let's hope it's as successful as the first one. Click HERE, To read "Dr. C's Academic Creative Writing Cruise - Part 1" in its entirety.

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