The Online Writing Conference: A Guide for Teachers and Tutors
An Interview with Beth L. Hewett

Interviewed by Geoffrey C. MiddlebrookWebtext design by John M. Bonham
University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

The Conversation

On the Book page I mentioned Hewett's conviction that, because of their non-interventionist tendencies, OWI ought to refrain from "privileging" three contemporary methodologies: expressivism, social construction, and post-process (p. xix). She returns to this theme in the book's postscript and identifies a need for "deeply descriptive, yet reflective research" into successful asynchronous and synchronous online commentary (p. 159). Moreover, Hewett claims, we must come to view the "online conference-based instructional environment as one that requires its own theories and practices" (p. 162). It was my good fortune to speak with Hewett in Skype about these imperatives, and what follows are three audio-video clips of that conversation.

The Need for OWI Theory

In this segment, Beth Hewett discusses the necessity of a clear theory of digital response to writing that is especially sensitive to asynchronous settings. (download the transcript)

Reading and Writing Fundamentals

In this segment, Hewett considers the importance of understanding reading and writing essentials in the formulation of an OWI theory. (download the transcript)

The Challenges to OWI

In this segment, Hewett reflects on the writing instruction issues that are exacerbated online, as well as the means to address those problems. (download the transcript)