Last night I was adding the books I've finished from class onto my list of books at Library Thing. Well, when I hit the social button, I found that anywhere from 13-20 some odd people had listed those books as well. I went that page and found there were a number of other titles that could work with this class.
I am not sure this link will work if you aren't already a member of library thing. But it is worth joining.
Then when I got up today it sort of hit me that this could be a new research tool. Looking at the social pages in library thing could yield books on the topics I want to research I might not have thought of myself. I am going to try this after I finish my reading and post to the discussion board.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Figured it out
Well, I have figured out why I had such trouble creating links before. Apparently the link button does not show up on the Safari browser I was using. When I switched to Firefox, there it was. Now I know.
Wednesday Morning Musings
I found an article in Kairos that might be useful
Learning to Write: Learning about Sustainability
At the same time I think I see a direction to go in. Not just using computers in the classroom, but the whole idea of web-based writing instruction. What are the advantages/disadvantages to that idea? In retrospect it is obvious, but I have let myself go offtrack. I need to get back to the idea I want to work with. Is web-based writing instruction going to help my students to become better writers?
I'm thinking of a survey that I can send to teachers who are using the web for instruction. That kind of primary data is important. And now that I am thinking along these lines, I am also thinking beyond this class. Is this a paper I could publish? Where? Kairos?
Why am I putting the cart before the horse?
Learning to Write: Learning about Sustainability
At the same time I think I see a direction to go in. Not just using computers in the classroom, but the whole idea of web-based writing instruction. What are the advantages/disadvantages to that idea? In retrospect it is obvious, but I have let myself go offtrack. I need to get back to the idea I want to work with. Is web-based writing instruction going to help my students to become better writers?
I'm thinking of a survey that I can send to teachers who are using the web for instruction. That kind of primary data is important. And now that I am thinking along these lines, I am also thinking beyond this class. Is this a paper I could publish? Where? Kairos?
Why am I putting the cart before the horse?
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Print Sources
This has been more difficult and more onerous than I had anticipated. I tried several different keyword searches that did not yield the results I was hoping for. So I just kept on trying different combinations of ideas until I had enough to start searching the library for.
I have also realized that I have the distinct problem of no student ID. Therefore anything I find today, I will need to put back where I can find it again next time, after obtaining said ID.
I'll start with a book titled _Engaged in Learning: Teachihng English, 6-12_ by Kathleen and James Strickland. There is a chapter titled "Computers, Websites, and Technology. I started to skim the chapter and found that thry are asking many of the same types of questions we have been raising in class. What is the role of technology in Education? One idea they propose is that we start with the question "What is it for?" and go from there. This is definitely a resource I will want to come back to later and check out for a much closer reading.
I also found an article in an _English Journal_ from November 2004. The title is "CyberEnglish" and the authors are Dawn Hogue, Ted Nellen, Nancy G. Patterson, and Patricia Schultze. Interestingly enough the theme of this issue was "Subversive English." The article is a Q & A. Various questions on cyberEnglish are posed and then answered by each of the four. They have a great many insights into moving to a web-based English program. I will be using this article as I work on the paper. These four are very active in promoting the concept. Additionally, I know each of them so can write to them and seek further information.
I found the book _Sustainable Computer Environments_ by Richard J. Selfe. I think this is more directed at post-secondary education, but it is still a book I want to check out and read at more length. There are sections on setting up a digital classroom and setting up the pedogogy that go with them. I looked at the references in the book and was disappointed to find many that are over ten years old. I hope that in reading the book, I find the ideas are not similarly out of date.
I am also interested in checking out the book _Technology and English Studies: Innovative Professional Paths_ edited by James A. Inman and Beth L. Hewett. This is a collection of essays by professionals who have used tech in an English class environment. Again, it seems mainly post-secondary, but it could be very useful. I find a great deal to be learned by reading first-hand accounts. I know I can't use all of them, just by a glance at the titles of the essays, but there is enough here to warrant further research.
I think that I desperately need to get to campus early Thursday morning and get myself an ID made so that I can start making more use of the library. It has been about ten years since I spent any real time in RBD and I hardly recognize the place. I need to become familiar with it again.
I have also realized that I have the distinct problem of no student ID. Therefore anything I find today, I will need to put back where I can find it again next time, after obtaining said ID.
I'll start with a book titled _Engaged in Learning: Teachihng English, 6-12_ by Kathleen and James Strickland. There is a chapter titled "Computers, Websites, and Technology. I started to skim the chapter and found that thry are asking many of the same types of questions we have been raising in class. What is the role of technology in Education? One idea they propose is that we start with the question "What is it for?" and go from there. This is definitely a resource I will want to come back to later and check out for a much closer reading.
I also found an article in an _English Journal_ from November 2004. The title is "CyberEnglish" and the authors are Dawn Hogue, Ted Nellen, Nancy G. Patterson, and Patricia Schultze. Interestingly enough the theme of this issue was "Subversive English." The article is a Q & A. Various questions on cyberEnglish are posed and then answered by each of the four. They have a great many insights into moving to a web-based English program. I will be using this article as I work on the paper. These four are very active in promoting the concept. Additionally, I know each of them so can write to them and seek further information.
I found the book _Sustainable Computer Environments_ by Richard J. Selfe. I think this is more directed at post-secondary education, but it is still a book I want to check out and read at more length. There are sections on setting up a digital classroom and setting up the pedogogy that go with them. I looked at the references in the book and was disappointed to find many that are over ten years old. I hope that in reading the book, I find the ideas are not similarly out of date.
I am also interested in checking out the book _Technology and English Studies: Innovative Professional Paths_ edited by James A. Inman and Beth L. Hewett. This is a collection of essays by professionals who have used tech in an English class environment. Again, it seems mainly post-secondary, but it could be very useful. I find a great deal to be learned by reading first-hand accounts. I know I can't use all of them, just by a glance at the titles of the essays, but there is enough here to warrant further research.
I think that I desperately need to get to campus early Thursday morning and get myself an ID made so that I can start making more use of the library. It has been about ten years since I spent any real time in RBD and I hardly recognize the place. I need to become familiar with it again.
Oiks!
Been a busy week. Closed down my classroom (mainly). Got all my required paperwork for the year complete (for the most part). Spent time with my family. I don't think Molly will need that picture to remind her who I am for a while now.
I have been remiss in my research. Here is one place I plan to go to Cyber Englsih: The Practice. It is a site created by Ted Nellen and used for his cyber-Englsih classes. It also has links to the philosophy and practice of ce as well as numerous links to the websites of teachers who use ce to some degree or another in their classes. I really meant to do more reading on this over the long weekend. Best laid plans and all.
And now to work.
I have been remiss in my research. Here is one place I plan to go to Cyber Englsih: The Practice. It is a site created by Ted Nellen and used for his cyber-Englsih classes. It also has links to the philosophy and practice of ce as well as numerous links to the websites of teachers who use ce to some degree or another in their classes. I really meant to do more reading on this over the long weekend. Best laid plans and all.
And now to work.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
My Research Topic
I am fascinated by the use of computers in English/writing classes. I am slowly taking my writing classes to a 100% web-based strategy. All assignments, course descriptions, syllaweb, etc. online. All (or almost all) student work to be posted online. What kind of impact will this have on the way English, more specifically writing, is taught? Will it allow for more student choice? Will it allow more time for the teacher to act as a coach?
I am still in the groping phase of my research process. I am looking for good ideas to glue themselves to the amorphous mass that is my general idea. If anyone has any questions that might help me figure this out for myself, please feel free to ask.
And I thank you in advance. =0)
I am still in the groping phase of my research process. I am looking for good ideas to glue themselves to the amorphous mass that is my general idea. If anyone has any questions that might help me figure this out for myself, please feel free to ask.
And I thank you in advance. =0)
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