Date of Graduation

Spring 2008

Degree

Master of Arts in Writing

Department

English

Committee Chair

Lyn Gattis

Abstract

The benefits and drawbacks of online learning have been debated for many years. This paper presents a comparison of literature discussing this debate in regard to online education in general versus online education specifically in regard to technical writing to determine if online education is more beneficial or problematic for technical writers. This comparison shows that although online learning presents primarily the same difficulties for teachers and students of technical writing as it does for those in other disciplines, these difficulties may not be as severe for technical writers. Additionally, online learning may present greater benefits for technical writers than it does for those in most other disciplines because the technical skills needed for effective online learning are already essential to the technical writer.

Keywords

online learning, online education, e-learning, technical writing, technical communication

Subject Categories

Creative Writing

Copyright

© Leah D. Thurman

Campus Only

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