Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2016

Facilitating Service Learning in the Online Technical Communication Classroom

Danielle Nielsen Murray State University

Abstract

Drawing from the author’s experience teaching online technical communication courses with an embedded service-learning component, this essay opens the discussion to the potential problems involved in designing online service-learning courses and provides practical approaches to integrating service learning into online coursework. The essay addresses specifically those classrooms where students may be required to develop or find their own service opportunities, whether those opportunities are within their community, on the college or university campus, or in another community. The essay argues by implementing service learning into online classrooms and requiring students to locate their own agencies, students not only build a greater sense of civic engagement because they are working with agencies whose missions they support, but also they develop a greater sense of responsibility for their own education and the coursework they undertake.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2016-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0047281616633600
CompPile
Search in CompPile ↗
Open Access
Closed
Topics
service learning teacher development technical communication online writing instruction
Export
BibTeX RIS

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (8)

  1. Smith et al. (2024)
    17 Students, 1 Project: Design Thinking Pedagogy for a Large-Scale UX Community…
    Communication Design Quarterly
  2. Capineri (2024)
    The Group Project’s Potential: Emphasizing Collaborative Writing with Community…
    Reflections: A Journal of Community-Engaged Writing and Rhetoric
  3. Carlson et al. (2023)
    Tuning to Place: Using Photos to Better Understand Problems in Technical Commun…
    Journal of Business and Technical Communication
  4. Tham et al. (2023)
    Examining Multimodal Community-Engaged Projects for Technical and Professional …
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Baniya et al. (2022)
    Revisiting SL in TPC Through Social Justice and Intercultural Frameworks: Findi…
    IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication
Show all 8 →
  1. Batova (2021)
    An Approach for Incorporating Community-Engaged Learning in Intensive Online Cl…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Brizee et al. (2020)
    High-Impact Civic Engagement: Outcomes of Community-Based Research in Technical…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  3. Cagle et al. (2019)
    Shades of denialism: discovering possibilities for a more nuanced deliberation …
    Communication Design Quarterly

References (26) · 10 in this index

  1. Association of American Colleges and Universities (2013)
    Summary. It takes more than a major: Employer priorities for college learning and student…
  2. Bourelle (2014)
    Adapting Service-Learning into the Online Technical Communication Classroom: A …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Bowdon M. (2003)
    Service-learning in technical and professional communication
  4. Brizee (2015)
    Using Isocrates to Teach Technical Communication and Civic Engagement
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Dailey-Hebert A. (2008)
    Service-eLearning: Educating for citizenship
Show all 26 →
  1. Deans T. (2010)
    Writing and community engagement: A critical sourcebook
  2. Deans T. (2010)
    Writing and community engagement: A critical sourcebook
  3. Dubinsky J. M. (2002)
    Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning
  4. 10.1016/j.iheduc.2010.02.006
     ↗
  5. Hill S. (2008)
    Service-eLearning: Educating for citizenship
  6. 10.1177/108056990606900208
     ↗
  7. Kelly R. (2012)
    Online Classroom
  8. Kolowich, S. (2014, January 16). Exactly how many students take online courses? Chronic…
  9. Lorenzetti J. P. (2007)
    Distance Education Report
  10. Matthews et al. (1999)
    Integrating service learning and technical communication: Benefits and challenges
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  11. McEachern (2001)
    Problems in Service Learning and Technical/Professional Writing: Incorporating …
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  12. 10.1177/108056990606900209
     ↗
  13. Phillips J. (2011)
    Distance Education Report
  14. Sapp et al. (2002)
    A Laboratory in Citizenship: Service Learning in the Technical Communication Cl…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  15. Scott (2004)
    Rearticulating Civic Engagement Through Cultural Studies and Service-Learning
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  16. Soria et al. (2013)
    A “Virtual Fieldtrip”: Service Learning in Distance Education Technical Writing…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  17. Stone (2000)
    Service Learning in the Introductory Technical Writing Class: A Perfect Match?
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  18. Strait J. (2004)
    Educase Quarterly
  19. Tugend, A. (2014, March 7). It’s unclearly defined, but telecommuting is fast on the rise. …
  20. Turnley (2007)
    Integrating Critical Approaches to Technology and Service-Learning Projects
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  21. Youngblood et al. (2013)
    Lessons in Service Learning: Developing the Service Learning Opportunities in T…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
CrossRef global citation count: 27 View in citation network → Build reading path →

Related Articles

  1. Prompt: A Journal of Academic Writing Assignments Jan 2026
    A Murder Most Technical: Gamification, AI, and Rhetorical Genre Studies in the Technical Writing Classroom ↗
    Justin Cook
    genre theory writing pedagogy service learning teacher development argument collaborative writing technical communication professional writing
  2. Pedagogy Oct 2025
    Contributors ↗
    modern rhetorical theory rhetorical criticism genre theory cultural rhetorics first-year composition writing pedagogy advanced composition creative writing writing across the curriculum graduate education two-year college service learning teacher development technical communication professional writing labor and working conditions archival research multimodality artificial intelligence literacy studies race and writing gender and writing disability studies literary studies editorial matter
  3. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Dec 2023
    Fostering Advocacy, Developing Empathetic UX Bricoleurs: Ongoing Programmatic Assessment and Responsive Curriculum Design ↗
    Scott J. Kowalewski; Bill Williamson
    writing pedagogy curriculum design service learning teacher development assessment technical communication professional writing empirical research qualitative research
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Jul 2023
    Collaborating Successfully with Community Partners and Clients in Online Service-Learning Classes ↗
    Rebecca J. Dumlao
    service learning teacher development collaborative writing technical communication
  5. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication Jun 2023
    A Metainvestigation of Speaking Skills: Practice, Feedback, and Self-Directed Efforts ↗
    Shoba Kanare Nandagopal; Ruth Sara Philip
    writing pedagogy teacher development assessment technical communication online writing instruction