Teaching Portfolio:
Laura Tichy-Smith, M.A.
Academic Writings
My focus for academic writing has been on topics related to teaching college classes online.
- Laura Tichy-Smith
“Online Education: How Assuring Accessibility for Diversity Enhances Usability for All Students"
In fall 2017, this article will be published in vol. 9 of Florida Studies, an academic journal of the Florida College English Association published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. You may read a copy of the article by downloading the manuscript PDF posted above.
Article abstract: Distance education is not a new concept, given that colleges have long offered a few basic degrees facilitated by written correspondence through the postal service, but the rich resources offered by computers and Internet connectivity have transformed the field. With its convenience factors, online education sounds as if it would be the great democratizer to facilitate multiculturalism in education. However, achieving universal accessibility for all students requires more thought on the part of instructors than simply uploading some text, photos, graphs, and videos into their online course modules. To achieve true universal accessibility to materials in online classes, instructors need to learn about and apply universal design concepts to their online course content.
"Facilitating Student Success in Online Classes"
In fall 2017, I will present this paper at the Florida College English Association's Annual Conference. You may read a copy of the paper by downloading the manuscript PDF posted above.
Article abstract: The Internet has opened expansive opportunities for distance education that were not available to earlier generations of students. With the advantages, for both instructors and students, of flexibility in the timing and location for attending to coursework has come the challenge for instructors to adapt teaching styles to fit with the now-virtual classroom. This paper will provide a compiled resource of techniques proven through research to be effective practices to help students succeed in the unique situations posed to instructors by online teaching. Topics covered will include addressing the true audience by debunking stereotypical assumptions about the characteristics and demographics of online students; the rich instructional advantages for online classes provided by the typically underused teaching resource of multimedia; universal design considerations to assure access for all students; and information from surveys to determine what factors contribute to student success and satisfaction in online classes.