Teaching Writing Specialization

• What is the refund policy?

  If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.

• Can I just enroll in a single course?

  Yes! To get started, click the course card that interests you and enroll. You can enroll and complete the course to earn a shareable certificate, or you can audit it to view the course materials for free. When you subscribe to a course that is part of a Specialization, you’re automatically subscribed to the full Specialization. Visit your learner dashboard to track your progress.

• Is financial aid available?

  Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

• Can I take the course for free?

  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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for financial aid.

• Is this course really 100% online? Do I need to attend any classes in person?

  This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

• How long does it take to complete the Specialization?

  Each course contains three or four modules, and each module should take one week to complete. The specialization has sixteen modules total, so learners should plan on 16 to 18 weeks total time.

• What background knowledge is necessary?

  Teaching experience is helpful but not necessary. An interest in teaching, plus a desire to use writing in some capacity in your teaching, will allow you to earn the greatest benefits.

• Do I need to take the courses in a specific order?

  It's best if you take the first course, "Teaching Writing as Process," first, since they provides a framework for the other courses. After completing the first course, you may take the other courses in any order you wish, with the Final Project being taken last.

• Will I earn university credit for completing the Specialization?

  Completing the Specialization does not include university credit.

• What will I be able to do upon completing the Specialization?

  If you teach now, you'll be able to incorporate new strategies and practices to help improve your students' writing. You may be able to use the Specialization courses for professional development credit at your school. You may also become a teacher leader who can share what you have learned about teaching writing with your colleagues. If you're hoping to teach in the future, you will bring an impressive understanding of the theories and practices behind teaching writing to any job interview, along with the confidence that comes with entering your classroom with a full toolbox of ways to teach writing.

• I have no teaching experience. Will I be able to do everything asked in the courses?

              Absolutely. You don’t need teaching experience to do everything asked, and to benefit from these courses. We’ll provide options such as “what do you do (in a particular situation), or what would you do once you begin teaching?” Even if you’re not a teacher yet, we ask you only to begin to think like a teacher. If you have some idea of what grade level or subject you’d like to teach in the future, so much the better, but even that isn’t necessary.

• I teach privately but not in an academic setting. Can I benefit from this specialization?

  Yes. Everything in these courses is geared toward providing the flexibility for you to adapt the learning to your own personal situation. For example, we might talk about the value of and best practices for using a mentor text with your students. The core principles taught will be the same for everyone, but clearly, the mentor text a fourth-grade teacher chooses will be different from one a twelfth-grade teacher chooses, and different as well from what someone teaching in a private setting might select.

   

• I’m not an English teacher. I teach Science, but I’d like my students to write more. Will this specialization help me?

  Definitely. All you need is the desire to use writing in your classes, regardless of the discipline you teach. It’s especially exciting – and rewarding for their students – when non-English or Language Arts teachers bring writing into their content areas. In these courses, you’ll learn techniques and practices to add to your already existing toolbox, and you might discover some new ideas as well. The key is in staying on the lookout for ways to adapt what you’re learning to your own specific discipline and situation.

   

• I teach writing, but I don’t enjoy doing it myself. Will I have to do much writing in these courses?

  There will be a fair amount of writing in each of these courses, via Discussion prompts and Peer Review assignments. However, you’ll be given clear instructions for all the writing you’re asked to do, and we’ll start small, with non-stressful, low-risk writings to help you grow more comfortable with writing. You might even find some of the techniques covered in the Specialization’s second course, “Teaching Reluctant Writers,” will work for you as well. Even if a particular writing seems to ask you to step outside your comfort zone, use it as a learning experience, a way to put yourself in your students’ shoes when they are given a writing assignment that challenges them as well. You can learn a lot about teaching writing from exploring your own writing. You don’t have to want to be a professional writer; you just have to be willing to give everything a try.

• I’ve been teaching writing for twenty years. How can this specialization help me?

              I believe it will. While you may be familiar with many of the concepts taught in these courses, you’ll likely add new tools to your toolbox and perhaps gain a new perspective on some of those familiar practices. Each course contains additional readings for those who want to go a bit beyond the required course material, and the flexibility we emphasize in our courses should allow you to focus on those theories and practices that will be most valuable for you. There’s no doubt you’ll have a lot to offer your fellow learners, and you might feel a renewed energy from being among an enthusiastic learning community.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.