Class Notes

Talk Like a Multimodal Pirate

by  • 

This be t’ post for t’ September 19, 2014 class meetin’

Yarr, I was a pirate, but they kicked meowt. Call it a Mewtiny.It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day. Get started by brainstorming some thoughts about WordPress.Com on Padlet. Once everyone has had a chance to have a say, we will move to a more structured analysis of WordPress.com. At the end, I shall have some pirate booty for ye!

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 (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 make things a bit simpler, I have created a form based on the Writer/Designer Analysis Questions that you can use to gather ideas and make sure you cover everything. We will try to collaborate in one document today. I’ll have a blank copy of the form for you to copy and use next week as you begin analyzing your tools.

Homework

For Monday, the 22nd, go through the options for Project 2 and have at least three choices ready for the beginning of the session on Monday. The selection is first come, and only one person per tool. If you would like to choose a tool that is not on the list, email me the name of the tool by noon on Sunday, September 21 (to give me a chance to make sure it will work for the project).

For Wednesday, the 24th, read all of the example web essays included in the Project 2 assignment. Be ready to talk about how they work, what they do well, and lessons you can take away as you work on your own project.

For Friday, the 26th, I hope to talk about memes and meme generators. More information next week!


 
Last updated on 19th September, 2014, 2:49 AM

Class Notes

Getting Started on Project 2

by  • 

This is the post for the September 17, 2014 class meeting.

Project 2 Overview

Today we’ll begin work on Project 2. 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 one of the recent articles about Grandmaster Flash and Grandmas. We’ll use these questions and gather our ideas on Padlet.

  1. What are the affordances of autocorrect and autocomplete? 
    In other words, what do autocorrect and autocomplete allow or encourage you to do? What do 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 2

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

Homework

For Friday, the 19th, read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer, and think about how you would analyze WordPress.com if you were writing about it for Project 2. I will ask you to apply the information from Chapter 2 to WordPress.com and to talk about the affordances and constraints of the site in class.


 
Last updated on 18th September, 2014, 9:41 PM

Class Notes

Submitting Project 1

by  • 

This is the post for the September 15, 2014 class meeting.

That Feeling When You Finish Project 1Today, we will go over how to submit your web portals using Scholar and how to write the reflection memo. You will have time to work on your project during the rest of the class. Remember that you have a one-week grace period for turning in your project if you need it.

You can use the class session to check the grading criteria for the project, make any last-minute updates to your site, and write your project reflection.

Project Reflection

Your project reflection is a a short (about 1 page) memo that tells me the URL to your website and then explains the decisions you made as you created your website. I will read your reflection before I read the bios.

Follow these instructions to submit your work:

  1. Go to the Assignments tab on the left menu in Scholar.
  2. Choose “P1: Web Portal.”
  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 your site?
    2. What are your overall goals? What grade have you aimed for?
    3. How have you used the modes of communication? Tell me how many modes you used and where you used them.
    4. Tell me anything else you want me to know about your site, including the content, the layout and design, and any images or other media you included.
    5. Add a concluding section that tells me anything else you want me to know about your project.
  7. Review 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. Celebrate! You’ve finished the first project!

Homework

On Wednesday, the 17th, we will embark on the next project, Interrogate an Interface. Review the information in Chapter 1 of Writer/Designer on Understanding Media and Affordances (starting on page 14). You will need to understand the concept of affordances to complete your second project.

For Friday, the 19th, read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer and be ready to sign up for the interface you will analyze.


 
Last updated on 12th September, 2014, 12:22 PM

Class Notes

WordPress How-To’s

by  • 

This is the post for the September 12, 2014 class meeting.

I don't blog often, but when I do, it's legendary.Today, we’ll go over a few more how-to’s and tips for your WordPress sites, and then you’ll have the rest of the class period to continue work on your web portals.

Important Dates

  • Monday, September 15: P1: Web Portal due
  • Monday, September 22: P1: Web Portal deadline (end of grace period, no work accepted after 11:55 PM)

Jazzing Up Your About Page

On Monday, I shared some links to example about pages and tips on writing them. Since then, I have talked to some of you about adding links to additional pages to your About page, so I want to demonstrate what the might look like quickly. I’ve added a couple of additional pages to the English 3844 WordPress site to show you what I mean.

In my example, I have added some pages with photos I have taken, but you could add more details on whatever interests you or whatever you have done. You might add photos, links to videos you have made, excerpts from articles you have written, and so forth. You could also focus on places you have been (like a study abroad trip, a family trip, or even a trip to the Cascades) or things that are important to you (like participation in Relay for Life, work you have done for your philanthropy, or your love of horses).

WordPress How-To’s

These links take you to step-by-step instructions:

Today’s Blog Post

Create a blog post that talks about the work you have done on your blog since we met on Wednesday. Use the “What I Did” and “Why I Did It” headings. By Monday, you should have six blog posts: 5 on what you did each class day, and the multimodal dig post.

Homework and Next Week’s Work

Continue work on your site. On Monday, you will work on your reflection memo in class and (ideally) submit your work. Monday’s post will include details on writing the memo and how to submit your project in Scholar.

On Wednesday, the 17th, we will embark on the next project, Interrogate an Interface. Review the information in Chapter 1 of Writer/Designer on Understanding Media and Affordances (starting on page 14). You will need to understand the concept of affordances to complete your second project.

For Friday, the 19th, read Chapter 2 of Writer/Designer.


 
Last updated on 12th September, 2014, 12:08 PM

Class Notes

Peer Review for Project 1

by  • 

This is the post for the September 10, 2014 class meeting.

Peer Review CatToday is peer review day for the first project. By sharing the draft of your first project, you will have the opportunity to get some feedback on your work before it is due. In addition, you will have the chance to get to know your classmates better by reading through the bios everyone else has posted.

Important Dates

  • Wednesday, September 10 (today): Draft of P1: Web Portal due in class for Peer Review
  • Monday, September 15: P1: Web Portal due
  • Monday, September 22: P1: Web Portal deadline (end of grace period, no work accepted after 11:55 PM)

Taking Screenshots

As you are working on peer review, you may find something on your classmate’s website that would be easier to show than to describe. In these situations, use a screenshot.

On a Mac: Use Command + Shift + 3. The screenshot usually shows up on your Desktop, with a name like “Screen Shot 2014-09-10 at 9.29.31 AM.” You can edit the image (crop it, etc.) if you like. You may also have an app called Grab, which will let you select a specific portion of the screen (rather than the whole page).

On Windows 8: Use Windows Key + Print Screen. You can also use the Snippings Tool, which will let you select a specific portion of the screen (rather than the whole page).

Posting Details on Your Drafts for Project 1

You will post information about your draft in the forums:

  1. Go to the Project 1: Building a Web Portal board in the forums, and create a topic with your name or your username (e.g., “Traci’s Bios.”). Use a pseudonym if you like.

  2. Add the link to your website at the beginning of the forum post.

  3. Highlight the link you pasted in, and click the URL button to make the link work. (This button will add codes to your post.)

  4. If you have any specific concerns that you want your readers to consider, add a note on that as well.

  5. Be sure to Preview your message to make sure everything shows up the way you want it to, and then Submit your post.

Replying to Project 1 Drafts

Next, you will reply to the posts of some of your classmates:

  1. Read the post and visit the site of at least two of your classmates:

    • Find one post that no other student has replied to (so that we can be sure everyone gets a reply).
    • Find a second post that has only one other student reply.

  2. Add a reply to your classmate’s post, and answer the following questions for the website:

    • What is good about the site? What should not be changed? Why is it good?
    • What suggestions do you have to improve the site?
    • Respond to any specific questions or issues that your classmate raised in the forum post.
    • Add an overall comment that sums up what you thought of the site and gives your classmate some encouragement.

  3. Read the feedback from your classmates and ask follow-up questions if you need more information you can post a reply with questions or find each other in the classroom if you like.

Have Questions?

If you have general questions about the assignment or WordPress, please visit the Padlet site and add them to the wall. Your questions should post anonymously.

Today’s Blog Post

Create a blog post that talks about the work you have done on your blog since we met on Monday. Remember these blog posts are how you will document your on-going work and effort on the projects. They will help you write your Reflection memo as well.

For today’s post, I’d like you to use three headings:

  1. What I Did
  2. Why I Did It
  3. What I Still Need to Do

In this third section, I want you to think through your to-do list for the next few days.

Homework

Continue work on your site. We will spend Friday working on the sites in class, and I will again work my way around the classroom to check on each one of you.

On Monday, you will work on your reflection memo in class and (ideally) submit your work. Monday’s post will include details on writing the memo and how to submit your project in Scholar.


 
Last updated on 10th September, 2014, 9:56 AM

Class Notes

Examples for Project 1

by  • 

This is the post for the September 8, 2014 class meeting.

Today you will have most of the class session to work on your WordPress site for Project 1. My goal is to move around the classroom and visit with each one of you to see where you are in the project and answer any questions that I can. If we run out of time before I visit with everyone, we will continue on Friday.

Assessment Criteria for Project 1

I use a system that allows you to aim for the grade that you want on each project, based on the work that you do, the risks that you take, and the effort that you put in. Risks primarily come into play with Project 3. The Web Portal Assessment Guidelines explain the expectations for each work level.

When you write your reflection memo about the work you did on the project, you will tell me what grade you have aimed for and how you went about fulfilling the criteria for that grade. You need to work consciously toward the grade you want, and you must be able to explain how you reached your goal.

Writing Content for Your About Page

The About Page It's all about me. Deal with it.tells someone about you, the author of the site, and why you made the site. At its most basic, it identifies you as the author and says you made the site for the course. It’s similar to the author bio that you’d find on the back cover of a book. Do protect your own privacy and only divulge information that you are comfortable with the entire class reading. If you are in the witness protection program, realize that you do not have to include a photo of yourself or use your real name.

Here are some random examples that show the kind of information you might include:

  • About Traci (the about page for my teacherly website)
  • About, from Tengrrl Cooks (the about page for a blog where I occasionally post recipes)
  • About The Hudson Team (this page covers an entire team, where yours only needs to describe you, but it has example bios)
  • HOLLY CROMER (I’m not in love with the layout of the about info, but the page is a nice, brief bio)
  • ABOUT ERIN ANDERSON, THE SLEEPYTIME TEACHER (this one is longer than yours needs to be, but full of information)

I also also have some how-to links that might help you:

Writing Content for Your Site Info Page

The Site Information Page tells someone about how you made your website. The information is the same kind of details that you would find on a colophon in a book. You would explain about the theme that you used and who made it, the plugins you are using, and the image that show up on every (or most) of the pages on your site. Here are some random examples that show the kind of information you might include:

Homework

Be ready to share the draft of your Web Portal in class during the next session. You will post the link to your site in the forums along with details on what you want your readers to tell you about what they see on the site.

I will provide some guiding questions for you to use as you respond to one another, but come to class prepared to ask for help or specific feedback as well. For instance, you might want to know whether your background image seems too busy, or you might ask for suggestions on how to add more details to your About page.

Remember to also add a blog post for today that talks about “What you did” and “Why you did it.” These blog posts will help you when you write your Reflection memo next week.


 
Last updated on 8th September, 2014, 10:58 AM