This course is part of the Teaching Writing Specialization

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Mark Farrington

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Teaching Writing SpecializationJohns Hopkins University

About this Course

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Half a century ago, a revolution took place in the teaching of writing. Educators asked, “What if we were to study how professional writers wrote, as a way to learn how we might teach writing more effectively?” The result was the writing process movement, with its emphasis on not just writing as product but as process. Good writing doesn’t magically appear, nor does it spring from the brain fully formed and perfect the first time. Instead, all writers engage in a process, and while that process can vary writer to writer, some stages do seem to apply, in some way, to almost every writing situation. This course demonstrates how teaching writing as process can lead to a significant increase in students’ comfort level and confidence as writers. Learners will examine methods for teaching writing as discovery, and for using low-stakes writing and reflection in their classes. They’ll fill their toolbox with practical strategies and techniques for teaching writing to students of any age, in any situation.

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Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Course 1 of 5 in the

Teaching Writing Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is designed for current or future teachers, in any situation, who use or want to use writing with their students.

Approx. 19 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

What the writing process is and how it can help improve student writing.
How writing as discovery, low-stakes writing and reflection can help students grow more comfortable and confident as writers.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Course 1 of 5 in the

Teaching Writing Specialization

Beginner Level

This course is designed for current or future teachers, in any situation, who use or want to use writing with their students.

Approx. 19 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.72/5 (11 Ratings)

Mark Farrington

Assistant Director

MA in Teaching Writing Program

2,564 Learners

5 Courses

Offered by

Johns Hopkins University

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

5 hours to complete

Module 1: Inviting Writing

Do you find yourself having to “make” your students write? Do you use writing mainly as a way to test students? What if you could find ways to “invite” your students to write, making the experience meaningful and even enjoyable for your students and yourself? In this module, after being introduced to the Teaching Writing specialization and considering the importance of good writing skills in virtually any career endeavor, learners will examine ways to “invite writing” from their students, identifying the characteristics and benefits of adding low-stakes writing to the more common approach of using writing as testing. They will practice low-stakes writing to experience firsthand the challenges and successes their students experience when writing.

5 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 46 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

10 videos

Teaching Writing Specialization Welcome Video5mTeaching Writing Process Course Welcome Video2mInviting Writing Module 1 Welcome Video1mA True Story 3mResponding to Your Fellow Learners3mInviting Writing3mWhat is Low-Risk Writing?5mWhy Low-risk Writing5mWhat is Freewriting? 7mFocused Freewriting 8m

2 readings

Low-risk Writing Prompts30m"Freewriting," by Peter Elbow15m

1 practice exercise

Characteristics of Low-risk Writing20m

Week2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Module 2: What Kind of Teacher Do You Want to Be?

When you were a student, how were you taught writing? When a former student comes back to visit you after ten years have passed, what would you like that former student to say about you as a teacher? In this module, learners will identify and reflect on how they were taught writing as students, and consider how the teaching of writing has changed over the last half century. Learners will also reflect on their own goals and values that will determine what kind of teacher they want to be.

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 29 min)

Week3

Week 3

5 hours to complete

Module 3: Writing Process

We’ve already used the term “writing process” a number of times. You’d probably encountered “the writing process” well before you started this course. You may even teach it to your students. But what is “the writing process,” exactly? How does it work, and how and why can it help your students improve as writers? In this module, learners will be introduced to writing as not just a product but a process. You’ll identify “the writing process,” its components and its many variations. You’ll examine how and why the process works as an effective approach to teaching writing. You’ll identify how the writing process movement led to not only a new approach to teaching writing, but to a new definition of what makes writing good. You’ll adapt your learning by creating an action plan for incorporating writing as process into your teaching.

5 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 31 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes

Week4

Week 4

6 hours to complete

Module 4: Writing and Reflection

Why do we look in mirrors? Even though we know what we look like, a mirror can give us a new or different, or just a more immediate and detailed view of how we perceive ourselves at that moment. Reflective writing is a way of providing that more immediate and detailed perspective on our learning. In this module, learners will identify the characteristics and value of using reflection as a tool for teaching writing. They’ll practice reflective writing by examining what they have learned in this course and how they might incorporate that learning into their teaching practice.

6 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 30 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

Module 4 Welcome1mWhat is Reflective Writing?8mThe Process Log5mReflection and Student Learning5mOne Example of Reflection for Student Learning4mReflection for Teaching3m

7 readings

"Reflective Thinking"30mSample Process Log10m"Reflective Friday"30m "Learning Through Reflection"30m"Sample Reflective Questions"20m"The Power of Reflective Writing for Teachers"30mFinal Thoughts and Moving On10m

1 practice exercise

Reflective Writing20m

Reviews

4.4

6 reviews

5 stars
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4 stars
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3 stars
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1 star
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TOP REVIEWS FROM TEACHING WRITING PROCESS

by RSOct 29, 2021

One the best courses for teachers. Many thanks for the instructor and University. It is rich in content both videos and readings. I would definitely recommend it to other teachers.

by JHAug 11, 2022

Excellent. Reflection based learning was extremely helpful for me.

View all reviews

About the Teaching Writing Specialization

This specialization will provide learners with proven methods to improve the writing of students of all ages, in all situations, including K through University classrooms as well as homeschooling, tutoring, in business and the private sector. In four courses and a final project, you’ll learn effective theories and practices to teach writing that you can adapt to your own teaching situation and needs. You’ll learn how to teach writing as process, how to reach even the most reluctant writers, how to help students construct specific texts and make the reading/writing connection, and how to respond to and assess student writing in ways that are meaningful to both teacher and student. If you use writing in your teaching, or want to, this specialization will provide you with tools and practices you can use with your students right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Do I need to take these courses in any specific order?
We have designed the Teaching Writing Process course to provide a foundation for all the other courses, so we recommend taking that course first, although it is not required that you do so, and you may take these courses in any order you wish. You must complete all four courses before taking the Final Project.
I already know about the writing process. Will this course still be valuable for me?
Being familiar with the writing process is a great first step, and you may already be doing some of the practices we’re suggesting. We’re confident you’ll still gain some additional tools for your toolbox, and perhaps a new perspective. Sometimes, just seeing how what you’re already doing is grounded in pedagogical theory and best practices can increase your confidence. And engaging with a community of enthusiastic learners can be invigorating.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

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Teaching Writing Process

About this Course

What you will learn