EIF Grant for Hawai`i Community College
Distance Reading and Writing Activities Project

 Final Report
 
The HawCC Distance Reading and Writing Activities Project sought to serve HawCC students in two ways: (1) to improve the quality of the distance learning experience and (2) to incorporate the use of World Wide Web technology into instruction.  The Project with a budget of $4,000 had three major components and a summary of results is provided for each.:
  • Component #1:  
    the continued development of online reading and writing activities

    Results:

    • These instructional activities were developed and are now online for student access via WebCT from home or a computer away the Main Campus learning center
      • 20 new reading tutorials and over 100 reading skills practice sets that provide immediate feedback were placed online via the Reading Lab WebCT accounts (Distance Reading Lab and AIMS Online) 
      • Over 30 vocabulary building exercises were placed online via the ES:L Lab WebCT account
      • Over 50 tutor training quiz items were placed online via the LC WebCT account.
      • Students enrolled in the HawCC Intensive English Program and the Imi Pono summer program  helped with the fieldtesting of the new tutorials, practices, and exercises.
    • These web sites were developed and are now being maintained:
      • the HawCC Writing Lab web site with link to WebCT account  (Annie Maeda,  reading/writing/ESL  instructor)
      • the HawCC ESL web site with link to WebCT account (Donna Moore), reading/writing/ESL instructor
    • These web sites were enhanced with additional pages and instructional activities:
      • the HawCC Reading Lab web site with links to various WebCT accounts (Birch Robison, grant coordinator)
      • the HawCC Learning Center WebCT account for tutor training
  • Component #2:
    the training of tutors and interested faculty in the area of online instruction and assistance 

    Results:

    • A series of 15 workshops  were conducted by Birch Robison, the grant coordinator and an associate professor of reading. (For paper copy, see attached timeline.)  
    • Those participating in nearly all sessions were:
      • seven (7) Learning Center tutors representing reading, writing, 
        ESL, and learning skills
      • four (4) HawCC faculty  representing Art & Humanities Division and the  Learning Center

 

  • Component 3:
    the implementation of the initial stage of online instruction and assistance to students in their homes or at learning center sites away from the main HawCC learning center (Manono, West Hawaii Educational Center)

    Results:

    • The Manono and Main Campus learning centers were used to simulate tutor/student situations for distance learning reading and writing situations. 
    • This assistance can now be provided via the Distance Reading Lab:
      • A tutor and student can communicate via the Online Tutor Assistance Center, which utilizes WebCT communication tools for  the bulletin board, email, and chat.  
      • Students may ask a tutor questions about a reading or writing assignment and request an essay review.
    • Assistance to the West Hawaii Educational Center is possible and will be fieldtested in late October or early November of this year.

  • Budget
    The grant received $4,000 for supplies, training, instructional materials development, and computer enhancements

    Results:

    • Funds were spent according to the budget allocations:
      • tutors/clerks for instructional activities development and training $2,600
      • computer enhancements $800 for Reading Lab computer used in materials development
        • additional memory and ram  
        • Scanmaker V6usl
      • materials and supplies  $600 (paper, scoring cards, folders, printer ink)
    • Project stayed within the spending limits of funds allotted. 
    • The Learning Center supplemented the instructional development activities with  $1200+  for additional tutor and clerical assistance throughout the summer. 

In summary, the EIF grant  improved the quality of the distance learning experience for HawCC students: by (a)  providing  a variety of interactive online instructional activities that may  be completed at home and at times more convenient to the student. and  (b)  establishing an online tutor assistance center where students can receive help with essays and other reading and writing assignments.   The grant further incorporated  the use of World Wide Web technology into the instruction of HawCC reading and writing courses by  showing  seven Learning Center tutors and four faculty members  how  the WWW can be effective as both an instructional tool and  a vehicle to assist students living far away from the college.

This report and other project information  is online at the project web site at <http://128.171.229.150/wwwreading/distance/>

Return to the project homepage.
Return to the HawCC Reading Lab homepage.