Assimilating Intensive Writing into Respiratory Therapy Instruction: One Baccalaureate Program’s Experience

Writing is an important tool in the process of learning and communication. Many universities across the United States recognize the importance of implementing writing into respective learning disciplines through a number of approaches. A respiratory therapy program at a large urban university recently assimilated a writing intensive course into their baccalaureate curriculum over a two-year period. A faculty member and a graduate teaching assistant planned as co-instructors various writing assignments that would incorporate writing as an activity to promote critical thinking and learning. The instructors made a dedicated effort to improve professional communication skills through various writing-to-learn strategies and observed the students appreciating an opportunity to be creative.