It's hard to imagine teaching in the composition classroom today and not incorporating technology into your pedagogy and research. The students enrolled in my first-year writing courses are mostly from the "wired generation" and I think it's important to understand how technology influences their various literacy practices. Technology is definitely a tool that can be used to reach students in new and different ways. I think I am a perfect candidate to look at new directions for teaching with technology because my WRT 150 course meets once a week for two hours in a computer lab and once a week in a traditional classroom. Both facilities are wired with high-tech computing equipment so access is not a problem for me or my students.
When I look at how I currently use technology in my teaching I know that I am just scraping the surface. Like most teachers, I have a class Blackboard site where I post course materials, can e-mail students and have them post threads to a discussion board. In looking at the technology-oriented educational applications available on Blackboard I was surprised to see blogs, podcasts, a virtual classroom and an option for creating class wikis. There are endless opportunities to use these tools to increase communication, collaboration and engagement in my first-year writing courses. This class has actually convinced me to not be afraid to use new technologies/teaching applications in my classroom. I guess the fear of not wanting to look inept in front of my students has stunted my teaching practices. As co-collaborators, students and teachers can work together to figure out how to best use technology in the composition classroom. Besides exploring the Blackboard technology tools previously, I am interested in looking at assignments that incorporate some of the communication vehicles students use with one another--my space, facebook, etc. For example, I could have students work on primary research by having them post surveys on facebook or peer response in Second Life.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
What is Literacy?
For me, literacy is more than just reading and writing---it's a tool for reading the world. It's also interesting to think about Gee's definition of literacy as an identity kit. I think that your literacy is definitely shaped by the community/groups you belong to. In my ENGL 825: Second Language Literacy we were asked to write a literacy autobiography. In the process of writing it I was able to reflect on the people and experiences that influenced by literacy journey--my parents, sibilings, teachers, community, etc.
It's interesting to think about the different forms that literacy can take from the ablility to read a map and make change (functional) to performing heart surgery or running a business (specialized). Many people fail to acknowledge that there are many different ways to be literate. Sadly, individuals often base their perceptions of who is literate and who is illiterate based on educational level, appearance, etc.
As teachers I think it's natural to think about the ways that we influence our students' literacy. In first-year composition, writing instructors play a crucial role in helping students become literate to the ways of the university from writing standards to the value of a liberal education. Oftentimes, we also have to undo some of the "literacy" damage from prior educational experiences. For example, in my own literacy autobiography I relived the negative experiences of high school English courses where creativity and freedom of expression were frowned upon. I showed up in freshman writing with baggage--I was a damaged reader and writer. It was only through exposure to new ways of reading, writing and thinking that I opened myself up to developing new literacies In that way, we are opening students up to new literacies--new ways of approaching the world.
It's interesting to think about the different forms that literacy can take from the ablility to read a map and make change (functional) to performing heart surgery or running a business (specialized). Many people fail to acknowledge that there are many different ways to be literate. Sadly, individuals often base their perceptions of who is literate and who is illiterate based on educational level, appearance, etc.
As teachers I think it's natural to think about the ways that we influence our students' literacy. In first-year composition, writing instructors play a crucial role in helping students become literate to the ways of the university from writing standards to the value of a liberal education. Oftentimes, we also have to undo some of the "literacy" damage from prior educational experiences. For example, in my own literacy autobiography I relived the negative experiences of high school English courses where creativity and freedom of expression were frowned upon. I showed up in freshman writing with baggage--I was a damaged reader and writer. It was only through exposure to new ways of reading, writing and thinking that I opened myself up to developing new literacies In that way, we are opening students up to new literacies--new ways of approaching the world.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Experimenting with Technology
I have enjoyed experimenting with the various technologies we have been exposed to in ENGL 808 this session. While I am familiar with most of these technologies I have never really taken the time to really play around with them. It's one thing to talk about them and it's another thing to create an account and become an active participant in using technologies such as Second Life, blogs and my own home page.
I have come to realize within the last week the importance of keeping up with what's current, especially as a teacher of such a technologically savvy generation. I am starting to see why my students enjoy these activities so much. I can see using some of these technologies in my own classroom, especially blogging. I think it would be fun to have my students create Second Life accounts so we can peer review in cyberspace. The opportunities are endless!
I have come to realize within the last week the importance of keeping up with what's current, especially as a teacher of such a technologically savvy generation. I am starting to see why my students enjoy these activities so much. I can see using some of these technologies in my own classroom, especially blogging. I think it would be fun to have my students create Second Life accounts so we can peer review in cyberspace. The opportunities are endless!
Dissertation Ideas: A Broad Perspective
Service-learning has become a burgeoning area in the field of composition studies within the last fifteen years. Many college and university English departments use service-learning pedagogy in their writing courses to instill the ideals of citizenship and community involvement in students. Ffew studies have explored the critical role faculty members play in the teaching, research, and institutional viability of service-learning and civic engagement in higher education. The purpose of my research is to develop an understanding of faculty members’ personal motivations for engaging in service-learning initiatives, to examine their use of service-learning pedagogy in the teaching of writing, and explore their professional attraction to service-learning as a discipline.
In addition to its impact on composition faculty members, a number of studies have been conducted showing promising results of the academic impact of service-learning. However, many of these studies lack an in-depth discussion of what students specifically learned about writing. I am interested in studying what students, who have participated in a service-learning themed composition course, have to say about what they learned about writing.
Could I get any broader?
In addition to its impact on composition faculty members, a number of studies have been conducted showing promising results of the academic impact of service-learning. However, many of these studies lack an in-depth discussion of what students specifically learned about writing. I am interested in studying what students, who have participated in a service-learning themed composition course, have to say about what they learned about writing.
Could I get any broader?
Being a C&T Student @ IUP
I have been enrolled in IUP's Composition and TESOL program since the Summer of 2006. This is my third and final summer taking coursework. It's hard to believe that I only have three courses left to take before I am ABD!
The thing I have enjoyed most about taking courses is getting to meet teachers from across the nation and around the world. It's amazing to sit in a classroom and dialogue about topics related to my field. I have come to appreciate the range of perspectives and teaching practices I am able to learn about. I also like reading and writing about issues that impact my classroom.
The biggest challenge I face is coming up with a concrete dissertation topic that I want to spend the next year or more working on. I have so many interests that it is really hard to narrow it down to one thing.
The thing I have enjoyed most about taking courses is getting to meet teachers from across the nation and around the world. It's amazing to sit in a classroom and dialogue about topics related to my field. I have come to appreciate the range of perspectives and teaching practices I am able to learn about. I also like reading and writing about issues that impact my classroom.
The biggest challenge I face is coming up with a concrete dissertation topic that I want to spend the next year or more working on. I have so many interests that it is really hard to narrow it down to one thing.
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