go home

Each student in the course will produce an electronic portfolio (here's some samples of what's possible), a cross-platform website and corresponding CD-ROM of material, consisting of the following face-to-face and virtual activities (also note that you are free to include other materials, such as a curriculum vitae):

  • Computer Literacy Biography: A online self-assessment of your access to and comfort with computers, to be completed within the first several class sessions and revised throughout the course. This first document will help you to experiment with writing in an electronic environment (images, audio, maybe video!) and to consider the differences between print and electronic writing forums. Note that this is a document you can continuously update during the semester and will serve as an audience orientation to your portfolio, reflecting on the pieces developed within it. Studio Review: Week 4, Sept 16.

  • One Software Demonstration: Often the hardest thing we have to do in electronic writing environments is teach a software application when we're just getting familiar with it ourselves. Each person in the class will be asked to demonstrate a certain feature of an application; based on student comfort levels and sign-up times, a "technology buddy system" will be set up in which, ideally, someone who has worked with the application will be paired with someone whose knowledge of the application is developing. Your group should develop a short piece on documatation to share with the class, and the maximum amount of demo time is between 30-45 minutes, with 30 minutes being ideal. Sign-ups TBA. Feedback provided within one week of demo.

  • One Reading Facilitation: A two-person presentation and discussion session, based on an assigned reading throughout the semester, to consume half of the class session, app. 75 minutes. Online presentation tools such as PowerPoint and communication applications should be part of the facilitation. Sign-ups TBA. Feedback provided within one week of facilitation.

  • Weekly Blog Entries (Weeks 3-13): In the context of 728, a course blog will function as a public online journaling forum in which you will keep a weekly reaction to readings from the course and their potential connection to your own teaching and learning experiences with technology. You should feel free to use the blog as a forum for preliim notetaking, critical dialogue with others about the reading, or interior monologue about your reactions. Although the forum is open, you should plan on one post per week (200-250 word minimum) and regular responses to posts. Blog feedback provided at midterm and end of semester.
  • Classroom Observation: A visitation and digital video observation, and web-based write-up of a computer-mediated writing class. This may take place at the university, community college, or secondary/middle level, any English or Language Arts course of your choice. You may also choose to observe a fully online course as well. Studio Review: Week 9, Oct 21. Note that your video doesn't have to be complete at time of review, but in progress.
  • Reflective Essay: A post-midterm response to one question (from a series of choices) relating to readings in the course. This is meant to mirror a typical "prelim" response of between 8-10 pages and will serve as a writing sample in your portfolio. Submission Format: Webpage or Acrobat. Due: Week 11, Nov 4. Feedback provided within one week.
  • Teaching Philosophy/Technology-Based Teaching Unit: An online statement (Web-based or PowerPoint) about the ways digital literacies impact the teaching of "writing" and/or the "language arts," along with an online teaching segment relating to technology and English studies. Note that while the statement should be "new" in relation to your experiences in electronic learning environments, the teaching unit or resources for annotations can be "pre-existing" as long as they are appropriately formatted for and reconceived within a digital writing setting. Studio Review: Week 14, Dec 2.

Note, your portfolio should include (navigate to) documents produced in the above assignments. The entire portfolio is due Wednesday, December 16, by 5 p.m.