This is a blog post intended for my ENG 725; Teaching Writing Online class, but also one that others may be interested in too. Yes, I''ve used blogs in the classroom for a long time. What I don't talk about much though, is how early on I used a blog AS a classroom. My first … Continue reading My History Using Blogs as Digital Classroom Space
Using Twitter for Professional Development
I remember when Twitter was new. This is not my first post about it, having written a post for my Writing I students back in 2012 and other posts on my earlier blog, Techsophist that have now disappeared. I've been using Twitter for a long time now, since 2007, and I definitely have a perspective … Continue reading Using Twitter for Professional Development
Choosing a Blog
In my ENG 725: Teaching Writing Online class this spring, one of the things they will be doing is reflective readings responses. That should be no surprise, especially in an online class where face-to-face discussion takes some mediated contortioning. I know blogs seem so old-school now, but really, I have yet to find anything better … Continue reading Choosing a Blog
A Prezi Brainstorming Session
This is a sample presentation I made for my Writing I class to show them how Prezi can be used to brainstorm. I went with Prezi because I have used it before for conference presentations and thought I could get a version of the class's Short Project 1 done fairly quickly. Overall, I think it … Continue reading A Prezi Brainstorming Session
Connectivity brainstorming
So my Writing I class is beginning their semester-long arc on "connectivity" by doing a little brainstorming. The assignment goes as follows: Short Project 1 gives you the opportunity to present your ideas through Prezi presentation software or something similar. For the presentation, you should use Prezi, Storify, Pinterest, Popplet, PowerPoint, Keynote, or other mind-mapping software like FreeMind to … Continue reading Connectivity brainstorming
Tweetfest (and more about Twitter)
Yesterday my Writing I Blended class hit the streets of Twitter and had a tweetfest about a blog post by Jay Dolan of The Anti-Social Media about Why Smart People Use Twitter. it went very well, and a bonus was having @JayDolan join in the conversation. He had read about the upcoming event on this blog … Continue reading Tweetfest (and more about Twitter)
What’s New in Emerging Social Software Research (A grab bag)
This post is mainly for my Writing I students, who are joining in with all the other Writing I students here in Missouri State University's Public Affairs Conference theme, which this year is "connectivity." To that end I (and the composition program here) am using Stephanie Vie's very nice reader, (e)Dentity, from Fountainhead Press. On … Continue reading What’s New in Emerging Social Software Research (A grab bag)
Inattention in the Classroom and The Cult of Multitasking
On reading my previous post on laptops and inattention in the classroom, I was struck by a nagging feeling that I was missing something that absolutely needed to be said. It came to me when I reviewed what I do when stuck in meetings or presentations where I don't have a stake in the outcome … Continue reading Inattention in the Classroom and The Cult of Multitasking
From Knowledgable to Knowledge-able: Building New Learning Environments for New Media Environments
"From Knowledgable to Knowledge-able: Building New Learning Environments for New Media Environments," a keynote speech by Michael Wesch. Caveat: I am not a good notes-taker, but this talk inspired me to take more notes than the one to two sentences that is my norm. Michael Wesch is not only a powerful speaker, he speaks with clarity … Continue reading From Knowledgable to Knowledge-able: Building New Learning Environments for New Media Environments
The Reason Why
Along with Nels Highberg of Pennies in a Jar, I’ve been thinking about why I still blog. It’s the duration, and today’s NYT article by Sharon Otterman, Haste Scorned, Blogging at a Snail’s Pace agrees. If all I want to do is share a quick link with others or a quick quip, then Twitter is a much better … Continue reading The Reason Why