Minnesota Writing and English Conference: New Visions for College Writing (Friday, April 12 and Saturday, April 13, 2024) Program

Abstract

The 15th annual Minnesota Writing & English Conference asks the MnWE community–Minnesota and surrounding states–to think about the future of academic writing instruction: • What lessons should we be teaching students in a world of post-pandemic skills deficits and AI-powered, large-language models? • What are the most effective pedagogical strategies for the tasks our students will face? Technological and systemic changes have put the future of our field in question. Corporations push to replace writers and other white-collar workers with AI-based tools. Schools eliminate multiple-choice placement tests but struggle to find satisfactory alternative processes. Political pressure builds to eliminate developmental coursework despite growing need for developmental reading and writing courses. Responding to these and other challenges, English and writing instructors, ESOL and Reading teachers, students, librarians, and tutors must adapt what has worked well while fostering the best of the latest developments. Which innovative visions should shape the future of college writing instruction?