University Writing Center

Posted on by Christopher Bailey

At Your Fingertips: The University Writing Center

UA Little Rock University Writing Center

The UA Little Rock University Writing Center (UWC) now offers online assistance to all UA Little Rock students. As a unit of the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, the primary goal of the UWC is to help students develop strategies for meeting their writing challenges.

Success in an online program depends on a variety of skills, not least of which is the ability to write a solid academic paper. The UA Little Rock University Writing Center (UWC) recognizes this and now offer free online consulting designed to help students at any stage of the writing process.

As a unit of the Department of Rhetoric and Writing, the primary goal of the UWC is to help students develop strategies for meeting their writing challenges. The UWC consultants generally look over projects and provide suggestions to help identify patterns of error in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

“Our philosophy is we don’t work on individual writing papers or individual assignments,” said Earnest Cox, director of the UWC. “We instead try to help students become more efficient, more effective writers.”

UWC-Online

UA Little Rock Online students of any discipline can now receive assistance through the UWC’s Online Writing Lab (OWL).

Dr. Earnest Cox, director of the UWC. Chris Bailey eLearning 

“What students will do is fill out a google form that would include submitting the paper being reviewed,” Cox said. “Students can expect feedback within 3 days of submitting their paper.”

Cox said students also have the option of scheduling an online video conference with consultants to receive feedback on their writing. To schedule an appointment with a consultant, students must call 501-569-8343

In addition to submitting papers online, students can also access writing-related resources that assist with thesis development, citation styles, as well as resume building.

“We really just try to have a resource so that if you have any problems with your writing in class or if you’re working on something like a resume, we have some materials that can help you with that,” Cox said.

For more information about the UWC call 501-569-8343 or email at elcox@ualr.edu.

Master of Education in Reading

Posted on by Christopher Bailey

Degree Spotlight: Master of Education in Reading

Master of Education in Reading

Dr. Kent Layton provides an overview of the Master of Education in Reading for more information call 501-569-3267

In today’s classroom setting, a teacher dealing with language barriers, developmental barriers, and mental health barriers involving students, may find themselves wondering how to address the fundamental skill of reading.

The UA Little Rock Master of Education in Reading is an accelerated 30-hour online degree program that offers beginning and veteran teachers the opportunity to obtain knowledge in the field of literacy.

Kent Layton, associate professor of reading, explained that “This degree is designed to take teachers to the next level with regard to their knowledge about reading and literacy.”

The M.Ed. in reading coursework focuses on preparing teachers as a reading specialist, effective literacy educator, or intervention specialist.

“Embedded within the graduate program, if students would like, they are able to also pick up their Dyslexia Graduate Certificate,” Layton said. “The M.Ed. in Reading can also lead to licensure as a k12 reading specialist if a student passes their practice reading specialist test.”

Students can choose from one of two-degree plans that lead to the M.Ed. in Reading; the reading specialist licensure and the reading generalist. According to Layton, students who take the reading generalist route “don’t have to take the courses necessary for the reading specialist.”

Layton further explained while licensing as a teacher is not a requirement for entry into the program, it is important to have access to schools and children.

“In our program, you do have to work with children. And at times you have to work in the schools in order to complete the assignments we have for our program,” Layton said.

The M.Ed. in Reading program meets CAEP, NCATE, and Arkansas Department of Education standards and is nationally recognized and accredited by the International Literacy Association (ILA).

For more information on the M.Ed. in Reading program go to https://ualr.edu/education/reading-med/.