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by on March 31, 2015

Project 3 Reflection

This is the post for the Friday, March 27, 2015 class meeting.

Time for ReflectionToday we finish the presentations for Project 3 and work on the reflection memo for the project. Project 3 is due by 11:55 PM today, Wednesday, 4/1. The grace period for Project 3 ends at 11:55 PM on Wednesday, 4/8.

Presentations for Today

These are the people and tools scheduled for today’s presentations.

10:10 Class

11:15 Class

Write Your Project Reflection Memo and Submit Your Web Essay

Whether you turn in your project today or after the grace period, you still need to write this reflection memo to tell me about your project.

  1. Go to the Assignments tab on the left menu in Scholar.
  2. Choose P3: Interrogate the Interface.
  3. Scroll down to the text box below the headings Submission and Assignment Text. You will write your reflection memo in this box. (Alternately, you can write in a word processor and copy/paste your text into this box.)
  4. Add your memo headers (To, From, Subject, and Date). For your reflection memo, you’ll use the following:
    • Address your memo to me (Traci) and from you (use your name).
    • Add a subject line that indicates this is your reflection memo and which project it is for.
    • Add the current date.
  5. Insert a horizontal divider line using the button indicated with the red arrow in the image below: Insert Horizontal Line button in Scholar
  6. Introduce your project and tell me the following information:
    1. What is the link to first page of your web essay?
    2. What is the link to your presentation? (Use the embedding instructions to add the presentation to your site.)
    3. Talk about your goals for the web essay and the presentation. You can talk about the content, the layout and design, and any screenshots you included.
    4. Tell me anything else you want me to know about your project that you want me to know before I grade it.
    5. Add a concluding section that sums things up and tells me how well you think you met your goals.
  7. Review and proofread the information in your memo.
  8. Agree to the Honor Code by clicking the checkbox at the bottom of the page in Scholar. You cannot finish submitting the project without clicking that checkbox (and it’s easy to miss).
  9. Submit your Project, and save a copy of the confirmation and submission ID. If something goes wrong in Scholar, you can contact 4HELP with that information.
  10. You’ve finished the third project!

Schedule for the Week

On Friday, we will begin Project 4, which will focus on remixing an existing story (fiction or nonfiction). We will look at several examples in class and think about how we might use some of the tools from Project 3 to remix a story.

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by on March 29, 2015

Day 3 of Project 3 Presentations

This is the post for the Monday, March 30, 2015 class meeting.

This-presentation-will-69941fToday we continue the presentations for Project 3. Your job during this session is to pay attention, since you may want to use these tools yourself in Project 3.

Presentations for Today

These are the people and tools scheduled for today’s presentations.

10:10 Class

11:15 Class

Today’s Blog Post

After the presentations, choose the tool you saw today that you are most interested in trying out (other than your own if you presented). State what tool it was, why you found it interesting, and how you might use it.

Homework

  • For Wednesday, 4/1:
    • If you are presenting Wednesday, be sure that you send the URL to your presentation by 9 PM on Tuesday, March 31 so that I can set up Wednesday’s post.
    • We will work on the reflection memo in class.
  • For Friday, 4/3:
    • We’ll go over Project 4, the remix a story project.
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by on March 26, 2015

Day 2 of Project 3 Presentations

This is the post for the Friday, March 27, 2015 class meeting.

this-presentation-is-amazingToday we continue the presentations for Project 3. Your job during this session is to pay attention, since you may want to use these tools yourself in Project 3.

Presentations for Today

These are the people and tools scheduled for today’s presentations.

10:10 Class

11:15 Class

Today’s Blog Post

After the presentations, choose the tool you saw today that you are most interested in trying out (other than your own if you presented). State what tool it was, why you found it interesting, and how you might use it.

Homework

  • For Monday, 3/30:
    • If you are presenting Monday, be sure that you send the URL to your presentation by 9 PM on Sunday, March 26 so that I can set up Monday’s post.
    • Be prepared to listen to each presentations in class; attendance is required even if you are not presenting. You will write a blog posts for each class day.
  • For Wednesday, 4/1:
    • If you are presenting Wednesday, be sure that you send the URL to your presentation by 9 PM on Tuesday, March 31 so that I can set up Wednesday’s post.
    • Project 3 due by 11:55 PM. We will work on the reflection memo in class. Grace period ends at 11:55 PM on April 8.
  • For Friday, 4/3:
    • We’ll go over Project 4, the remix a story project.
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by on March 23, 2015

Day 1 of Project 3 Presentations

chucknorrisThis is the post for the Monday, March 23, 2015 class meeting.

Today we begin the five-minute presentations for Project 3. Your job during this session is to pay attention, since you may want to use these tools yourself in Project 3.

Presentations for Today

These are the people and tools scheduled for today’s presentations.

10:10 Class

11:15 Class

Today’s Blog Post

After the presentations, choose the tool you saw today that you are most interested in trying out (other than your own if you presented). State what tool it was, why you found it interesting, and how you might use it.

Homework

  • For Wednesday, 3/25:
    • Check your email by 10 AM on Tuesday, 3/24 to see the status of the water line maintenance for Shanks.

      If class will meet:

      • If you are presenting Wednesday, be sure that you send the URL to your presentation by 9 PM on Tuesday, March 24 so that I can set up Wednesday’s post.
      • Be prepared to listen to each presentations in class; attendance is required even if you are not presenting. You will write a blog posts for each class day.

      If class will not meet:

      • You will work on your web essays independently and write a blog post.
      • I will post alternative instructions for the day on the class website by 7 PM on Tuesday.
    • For Friday, 3/27:
      • If you are presenting Friday, be sure that you send the URL to your presentation by 9 PM on Thursday, March 26 so that I can set up Friday’s post.
      • Be prepared to listen to each presentations in class; attendance is required even if you are not presenting. You will write a blog posts for each class day.
    • For Monday, 3/30 and Wednesday, 4/1:
      • The schedule may change based on the maintenace in Shanks Hall. Details will be posted by 10 AM on 3/24. Currently the schedule is as follows:
        • Monday, 3/30: Project 3 due. We will work on the reflection memo in class.
        • Wednesday, 4/1: We’ll go over Project 4, the remix a story project.
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by on March 1, 2015

Examples for Project 3

This is the post for the Monday, March 2, 2015 class meeting.

Today we will look at some resources for Project 3, assessment guidelines for the project, and some examples for the web essay portion of Project 3.

Choosing Your Interface

What group work teachesIf you have not yet done so, go to the Project 3 Sign-Up and choose one of the remaining tools for your project. Remember you are governed by the Honor Code (so don’t remove someone else’s name to add your own).

Examples for Project 3

These example web essays included in the Project 3 assignment demonstrate how some students worked on the assignment in the past:

Web Essay Topic Notes for 10:10 Notes for 11:15
The Video Star Verdict 10:10 class notes 11:15 class notes
Haiku Deck 10:10 class notes 11:15 class notes
Editorially 10:10 class notes 11:15 class notes
PowToon 10:10 class notes 11:15 class notes

We will explore the sites in groups. Each group will answer the following questions for the essay and prepare to share their findings with the class as a whole at the end of the session:

  • What are three good things about the project? What should not be changed? Why is it good?
  • What three suggestions do you have to improve the site?
  • What three lessons can you take away from the example as you work on your own project?

After all the group have gathered their notes, a spokesperson for each group will present the findings.

Today’s Blog Post

Write a post for today that explains at least one specific thing you found in one of the example essays that you will apply to your own Interrogate the Interface project.

Alternately, you could look at the blog post from the opposite perspective and write about something specific you will do in your Interrogate the Interface project that was missing from one of the example essays or would be an improvement on one of the example essays.

Homework

  • For Wednesday, 3/4:
    • We’ll talk about the expectations for the oral presentation (and how to avoid bad PowerPoint presentations), and talk about working with screenshots. Read the ProfHacker article on  the 1/1/5 organizational strategy.  
  • For Friday, 3/6:
    • Class will work online. You will provide a summary and related evidence of working at least 50 minutes on Project 3. No office hours on Friday.
  • For Monday, 3/9 through Friday, 3/13:
    • Celebrate. You will be on Spring Break!
  • For Monday, 3/16 and Wednesday, 3/18:
    • Be prepared to work on your third project in class. I’ll share some additional resources, and have a quick conference with each of you to answer any questions. Please be sure to check email before class on Sunday evening just in case there are additional instructions.
  • For Friday, 3/20:
    • Have a draft of your work ready to share in class for peer review.
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by on February 27, 2015

Project 3 Sign-Up and Analysis Techniques

This is the post for the Wednesday, February 27, 2015 class meeting.

You will sign up for your interface for Project 2, and then we will talk about analytical techniques and analyze WordPress.com

Choosing Your Interface

yay_its_friday_kitten_memeOnce everyone appears to have settled in, I will ask you to log into your VT Gmail account. Doing so will mean you’re signed into Google Drive too and can view the sign up sheet. Once everyone is logged in, I will open up the Project 2 Sign-Up, and you will add your names. Remember you are governed by the Honor Code.

Analysis of WordPress.com

You all have experience with WordPress.com. For our purposes today, you need to think of WordPress.com’s interface and how the site works. Remember that you are looking at the WordPress site, and not at your particular blog. As you think about WordPress.com, try to separate what the overall site does and what the particular theme you chose does. They are different things.

We will consider these ideas:

  1. Think through the rhetorical situation for WordPress.com: Audience, Purpose, Context, Author, and Genre.

  2. Analyze the design choices for the tool: Emphasis, Contrast, Organization, Alignment, and Proximity.

  3. Identify the modes of communication that WordPress.com uses as part of its interface: Linguistic, Visual, Spatial, Aural, and Gestural. You can also identify modes that WordPress.com enables you to use.

  4. Determine the affordances and constraints of WordPress.com.

To simplify data gathering, I have created a form that you can use to gather ideas and make sure you cover everything. We will collaborate, in groups, in one document today.

I have a slideshow that includes short definitions of the major components of your evaluation that you can use as you work. There is also a blank copy of the form for you to copy and use as you analyze your tool. Use the FAQ instructions if you are unsure how to make a copy.

Today’s Blog Post

Write a post for today that talks about the tool you will focus on for Project 3. Explain what tool you will work on, and why you chose it.

Please focus on why it was one of your choices, what drew you to it, and why you want to explore it. Please do NOT spend this post whining about how it wasn’t your first choice or similiar misfortunes.

Homework

  • For Monday, 3/2:
  • For Wednesday, 3/4:
    • We’ll talk about the expectations for the oral presentation (and how to avoid bad PowerPoint presentations), and talk about working with screenshots.
  • For Friday, 3/6:
    • Class will work online. You will provide a summary and related evidence of working at least 50 minutes on Project 3.
  • For Monday, 3/9 through Friday, 3/13:
    • Celebrate. You will be on Spring Break!
  • For Monday, 3/16 and Wednesday, 3/18:
    • Be prepared to work on your third project in class. I’ll share some additional resources, and have a quick conference with each of you to answer any questions. Please be sure to check email before class on Sunday evening just in case there are additional instructions.
  • For Friday, 3/20:
    • Have a draft of your work ready to share in class for peer review.
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by on February 25, 2015

Choosing Your Interface

This is the post for the Wednesday, February 25, 2015 class meeting.

WednesdayPlans have changed for today. Instead of talking about Chapter 2, I’m going to give you the bulk of the class session to explore the various tools you can choose for the assignment.

As You Look at the Options…

Keep these tips in mind:

  • It’s easier to analyze a tool that you have never used before.
  • Look for a tool that you might be able to use on your Remix project or elsewhere.
  • Keep an open mind.

No Blog Post

You get a free day today! If you want to write about Project 3 and your process of searching for the right tool to analyze, you may, but it’s optional.

Homework

  • For Friday, 2/27:
    • Go through the options for Project 3 and have at least three choices ready for the beginning of the session on Friday. The selection is first come, and only one person per tool.
    • Read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer. We will analyze a text in class using the information from Chapters 1 and 2.
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by on February 22, 2015

Getting Started on Project 3

This is the post for the Monday, February 23, 2015 class meeting.

Project 3 Overview

Today we’ll begin work on Project 3. You will be looking at an web-based tool as an example of a digital, multimodal text in a web essay that analyzes how the tool works.

Affordances and Constraints

Example of Autocorrect FailWe will get started with a discussion of autocorrect, autocomplete, and an article about Grandmaster Flash and Grandmas. We’ll use these questions and gather our ideas on Padlet—10:10 class OR 11:15 class.

  1. What are the affordances of autocorrect and autocomplete? 
    In other words, what do autocorrect and autocomplete allow or encourage you to do? What does they make easy for you?
  2. What are the constraints of autocorrect and autocomplete? 
    In other words, how do autocorrect and autocomplete limit your ability to do things you want to do? What do they make difficult for you? Think about which features of autocorrect and autocomplete are intuitive and which features are “hidden” or only available to advanced users. What shortcomings are there to autocorrect and autocomplete?

Overview of Project 3

We’ll read through Project 3. You’ll use information from chapters 1 and 2 of Writer/Designer to help you write your analysis.

Today’s Blog Post

Write a post about a specific experience with autocomplete or autocorrect. You can talk about your phone, Gmail, a word processor, or another tool. Include discussion of affordances and constraints.

Homework

  • For Wednesday, 2/25:
    • Read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer. We will analyze a text in class using the information from Chapters 1 and 2.
  • For Friday, 2/27:
    • Go through the options for Project 3 and have at least three choices ready for the beginning of the session on Friday. The selection is first come, and only one person per tool.
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