Online creative writing workshop

[natalie_hebshie]

Hi everyone!

I'm an instructional designer at Emerson College and am working with faculty to create an online MFA in Creative Writing. I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas or experience in conducting online writing workshops. In the face to face version of this program, students and the professor will read a student's work and come to class ready to discuss. I'd love to keep this asynchronous and have suggested tools such as Google Docs/Canvas Collaborations and Discussions, but faculty feel like there is an energy with the face to face courses that is lost. Are there Apps that I should be considering? Or a way to structure an asynchronous assignment that should be considered? I'm open to any ideas or suggestions.

Thanks!

[stephanie_pope]

Hey natalie_hebshie​,

This sounds like a wonderful workshop to bring into an online space. I'm thinking maybe to facilitate this on a discussion board- if this is for a large group of people you could create various group discussions.

A few thoughts:

• Clear expectations i.e. must submit response/reflection/feedback by submitting a video (it's helpful to include a photo with an arrow pointing to the video/record button)
  • This could mimic the face to face
• Have student upload papers to discussion post (this needs to be enabled in the course level setting)

Just some ideas. I love brainstorming ideas!

Stephanie

[natalie_hebshie]

Thanks, Stephanie! I love the idea of submitting videos to a discussion post.

[stephanie_pope]

Awesome! Always happy to help.

[dhulsey]

You might take a look at Voicethread: Conversations in the cloud​.