Elizabeth Nist, an Online Curriculum Specialist and English Department faculty member at ARCC, spent the month of April at ARCC's sister college in China, Zhaoqing University, training its English instructors in online instructional techniques. Her trip capped off more than a year's work with Tian Ke, an assistant professor in the Foreign Language Department at Zhaoqing. During her year-long stay at ARCC, Tian explored how to integrate technology into the teaching of English at her university.

"This adds a new dimension to our sister college relationship," says ARCC President Dr. Patrick Johns. "We have sponsored a number of faculty and student exchanges. Now we have the capability of transferring online expertise from Liz Nist to our colleagues at Zhaoqing University."

Working together, Nist and Tian have developed a writing course that will be appropriate for both native English speakers at ARCC and ESL students at Zhaoqing. Titled "Fundamentals of Writing," the semester-long course will require students from both institutions to submit writing assignments to a class Web site and, through that Web site, to share and discuss their work.

The course, which will be offered at both institutions this fall, will not only provide all enrolled with intensive writing practice, it will offer a unique window into the lives of students based thousands of miles apart.

"We expect that through their writing, the students from Anoka-Ramsey (Community College) and those from Zhaoqing University will inform one another about their cultures and lifestyles," says Nist.

Other benefits for bringing together native speakers and ESL students may materialize, says Nist. The two instructors are theorizing that the Chinese students and the American students may benefit from working with classmates who have different perspectives on the English language.

"While native English speakers tend to have a wider vocabulary and a better understanding of idiomatic speech," Nist says, "Chinese students who learn English are often more advanced in their grammar skills." She says she and her co-instructor won't know until the course is underway whether or not such differences will have an impact on students' discussions of each others' work.

The online discussions are among the unique benefits of electronic instruction. A permanent record of each student's postings will be saved to the "class discussion thread" (also called a "bulletin board" by those familiar with online tools). Students will be able to re-read each other’s postings and add additional comments throughout the semester.

To participate in the class, students will log on to a special course Web site. There, they'll access their assignments, communicate with their instructors, submit their written work, review their classmates' submissions, and participate in online discussions. Each school's students will also meet in person for periodic face-to-face discussions and to take exams.

During Nist's stay at Zhaoqing University in April, she and Tian introduced the course to about 30 of Zhaoqing's ESL instructors by having them participate in a few actual course exercises. Nist says the instructors were so engaged by the possibilities of online learning that they decided to complete the entire online course together.

"They were so enthusiastic," Nist says. "I have an invitation to come back and teach again."

"Liz has committed years now to perfecting the use of electronic teaching," says Johns. "She has always been on the leading edge of teaching and learning techniques and continues to be an innovator. It is our intent to continue supporting these efforts and allow her and other faculty to expand their development of innovative teaching."