Teaching with Technology
Some thoughts on designing and assessing Digital and Multimodal Writing Assignments
Scott L. Rogers March 25, 2014
all about me
Assistant Professor of Rhetoric and Composition
Ohio Northern University
Ph.D. University of Louisville (2011)
Media Production Background
Writing Teacher/Administrator
Teaching Interests: Connecting New Media with Community, Place, and Professional Development
Who are you?
Take a few minutes to write down:
How you currently use digital technologies for teaching?
If you don't currently use digital technologies, what kinds of things might you like to do?
Workshop Goals
Think about assessment and assignment design in relation to multimodal and digital writing.
Consider examples of multimodal and digital writing projects .
Apply technologies and assessment plans to current or prospective course assignments (across the disciplines).
This is not an argument for technology
(okay, so maybe it is a little bit)
Key Concern:
FREE!
Technologies:
WordPress...Open-Source CMS
WeVideo...Web-based editing software
Prezi...Web-based presentation software
Quickly, three rules of thumb
Start with process and assessment first. What do we want students to do or accomplish and how do we plan to determine/measure that they've achieved the goals?
Validate technology but not at the expense of rich, critical thinking and writing.
Students don't know as much as we sometimes think they do.
Structures/systems for assessment
{see your handout for more detail}
National Writing Project
Borton and Huot, 2007
Odell and Katz, 2009
All three models stress the importance of designing assessments with students and encouraging sustained, focused self-assessment.
From Users
to Makers
Keys to assignment planning :
Build in plenty of time.
Identify audience and purpose from the start.
Student...Reflection
Instructor...Demonstration
Other Audiences...Context-Driven
Start with outcomes...involve students in the assessment planning and review process.
Work from examples; not to replicate but to inspire.
WordPress
A free, open-source content management system; designed for blogging, but suitable for a range of applications/uses.
Constraints:
Learning Curve
Time
Structure (Pages v. Posts)
Wordpress Assignments
E-Portfolios
Course Discussion Forums
Digital Articles/Essays
Professional Portfolio: http://scottlrogers.net/
E-Portfolio Example: http://iamcorsica.wordpress.com/
Discussion Board Example: http://engl4521.scottlrogers.net/
Discussion Board Example: http://engl4521.scottlrogers.net/
Digital Essay: http://pfisher.scottlrogers.net
VideoMaking
www.wevideo.com (video)
www.audacity.com (audio)
Hardware Needs:
Phones
Cameras
Audio Recording*
Constraints:
Time
Expertise
Video Project Assignments
Digital Storytelling
Mediated Writing (Critical or Creative)
Seeing Her Right Back from Trauman on Vimeo.
"Dandelion Waltz" by Chris Matejka
Promo Video Assignment
Why Promo Videos?
My Example...Place-branding (see prompt)
What characteristics of "place" promotions do we recognize?
What "works" in the video? What doesn't "work"...and why?
What elements of the production do you think are difficult (i.e. where do you suppose the producers spent their time and money)?
What aspects seem replicable?
Promo Video Assignment
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Overall Effectiveness
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"Translation" of Written Text
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Clarity of Ideas and Organization
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Visual Coherence
-
Technical Skill
- Documentation
Some general suggestions for video making...
Again, get your students involved in setting the terms for success. Create a rubric using course goals and assessment terms:
-
What is the goal of this type/style of video?
-
Who is the desired audience?
-
What conventions or modes typically "work" in this kind of project?
-
What kind of planning needs to be done? How and where do we gather resources? How do we evaluate quality of resources?
- How can we document and cite media content?
Prezi
Constraints:
Rigid structure
Assumptions about use/value
Disorienting (...for some)
Learning curve
The trick to using Prezi for something other than presentations is to prioritize spatial over linear organization. Prezi can mimic Powerpoint but it doesn't have to.
Use Prezi for...
Digital Essays on the Cheap
Academic Posters
Mapping (creating and/or analyzing)
Document Analysis/Reflection
Image, Chart, or Diagram Analysis
A brief introduction to
Application
Play around with Wordpress, WeVideo, and/or Prezi. Look at sample projects. Examine outcome heuristics. Consider...
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How you might adapt or extend an assignment using one of these tools/assignments?
-
What challenges do you expect to face?
-
What specific course learning goals do you want to meet?
Discussion. Comments. Questions.
Contact: s-rogers@onu.edu or scottlrogers77@gmail.com
Teaching and Assess
By Scott Rogers
