Spring!

In a nice combo of old and new technology, I started class last night with a free write/reflection on a series of photos published online by The Atlantic depicting spring around the world.

Using photos as a writing/reflection prompt on the evocations and implied narratives in images trods on well worn ground in the writing classroom. But the images were curated by an online publisher -- and I happened on them through Twitter.

Each week as we explore the uses of Twitter in the research writing classroom, I continue to be struck by its ability to inject a little serendipity into the research process. It's not great for looking up specific answers to specific questions (or finding the piece of information students want to neatly fit into what they think their paper should be about). But if you are in the habit of scanning, and you click that "follow" button occasionally based on whimsy, wonders do await. Really, just take a look at those fabulous pictures and see if you aren't in the mood to write about spring!

(oh, and students came up with some great insights about the uses and limits of images in the composing process)

Mostly Ups!

First, an update: I did finally figure out a way to turn off the projector. And, as a class, we figured out how to lift the blinds to let the gorgeous sunset in during class last week. I’m marking this down as significant technology progress.
 
The Twitter assignment I’m using to promote lateral and creative research also is working well – or at least I can say it is accomplishing one goal: Improving my own Twitter practice. I think I have an easier time deciding what to Tweet and Retweet now that I have a specific audience in mind (and not just the randomly assembled tiny group of followers who have chanced upon my account, and, digging my cowboy hat and hot dog eating picture, have signed on to follow).
 
I have also found a number of tech-related articles that are very helpful to the digital literacy work and research I am doing. And I have to say I find it very cool to check my feed and see my students conversing with one another on their research topics. Yes, they are assigned to do so. But they are doing it – and doing it better than I could have predicted! Feel free to check us out @emilysimnitt and/or #Eng102.