Emily Scott - 6/29/17
- The Teacher's Guide explains that as ENC2135 teachers we will have our students keep journals. Should we have creative prompts for our students or allow them free reign to write about anything and everything in any mode they choose for these journals?
- The WPA Outcomes Statement states that, "In this Statement 'composing' refers broadly to complex writing processes that are increasingly reliant on the use of digital technologies" in relation to our ENC2135/ENC1101 students' composition. For those of you who have some teaching experience already, what are some ways you have used digital technology and media in your classroom(s) in the past? I am looking for some good ways to hopefully implement technology in and outside of my classes.
Hi Emily - I am a huge fan of effective technology integration in the classroom. I capitalize on our LMS (Canvas) in my classroom to help both in and out of the classroom. The platform allows me to develop resource modules with embedded digital assignments that are then used as points of discussion in the classroom. I leverage e-portfolios similar to what we will use in this class and others. I also try to integrate the effective use of smart phones in class as students tend to want to be on it all of the time anyway so I decided to just make it a part of the classroom. We will Tweet or use Kahoot or Poll Everywhere for quick responses to class content and/or discussion. Youtube and TED Talks can also be great supplements to class and content discussion. I have found that the key is to choose a few things that you find valuable and find that sweet spot between the technology integration and your teaching goals. I love to try new things but sometimes I get a little too ambitious and an epic fail occurs. It is inevitable! I tell my students that the teaching process is recursive just like their writing process and sometimes I need to go back revise, edit, and try again. I also enjoy collaborating and sharing ideas for the classroom so anytime you would like to brainstorm, let me know.
ReplyDeleteWould love to hear more as well! I avoid technology even in my personal life, so in fact several of the things you mentioned are foreign to me...but I really want to become savvier with tech.
Delete1. I personally believe that giving journal prompts will greatly enhance the project and student learning objectives. I think prompts help students who struggle to creatively express themselves have a foundation with which to work. I don't think prompts need to be used the whole semester, but I think at least using them in the beginning is a helpful way to give students an idea of the parameters and freedoms that a journal can provide (paradoxical, isn't it?). I tend to be more traditional in my thinking about school assignments and such, so that's just my take on it. In general though, I think a mix of prompts and free writing is good, but I would definitely start with prompts as a spring board into the project to give students an understanding of the project's objectives.
ReplyDeleteFrom Jessie: I think there is value in providing prompts that the students can take or leave. Some students may find some direction useful in sorting through all the possibilities a journal offers. Also, prompts are a way to introduce the student to a previously unfamiliar perspective. Allowing the student to choose whether or not to use the prompt allows those students who prefer to cut their own path that freedom.
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