Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Select Presentation Readings

As you might remember from the syllabus, there are selecte days where you will give a short presentation based on articles on CMC. It's time to select what you want to read.

Step one - go to the page containing the readings. When you get there you'll want to go to the botton and click the option of showing 25 entries.

Step two - go through and browse the articles and select one you want use as the basis of your presentation.

Step three - make sure no one else has chosen that article already (you'll need to read the comments on this post to make sure). This is first come first served.

Step four - Presentations will be on 2/14, 3/26 and 4/25. Select the date you would like to present. Rank the days in order or when you would like to present. There will be six a day and again it's first come first served.

Step five - Post your information to the comments section of this post.

Online Class Discussion Question Posted

The question for this Friday's online class discussion has been posted on the message board.

You must post your personal response to the board by 11:59 PM on Friday, February 1st.

Post a response to at least one other learner by 11:59 PM on Sunday, February 3rd.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Online Posting Information

This Friday, we will have our first online asynchronous discussion. Remember we don't meet in-person on the days where this is occurring. To get ready for the discussion, you will need to do the following.

You will notice a link to the right hand side of this page toward the top that says Message Board. Click on that and you will be taken to the sign in page. If You already have an account, just log in and you be ready for the next step.

If you don't have an account, go to the course registration page.

Click the Create New Account button and follow the directions on the page.

Login to the message board and read the posts that are already there. Pay particular attention to the post called Grading Rubric.

Monday, January 29, 2007

Getting Ready for Online Discussion

For Wednesday the 31st I'll have you read and do a couple of things to get ready for class.

First go through the PowerPoint on asynchronous discussion.

Next you want to find an online message board or forum and poke around an read. Observe the explicit and implicit rules for communicating on this board. Make note of the tone of communication and come prepared to discuss and work out recommendations for successfully communicating in this type of arena.

Check out this Google directory of online message boards or the big-boards site has a number of links you can use. If you already know of a message board or use one, you can use that for preparation.

No questions to post for Wednesday.

Friday, January 26, 2007

Reading for Monday, Jan. 29th

Please read S1:U3 in your textbook for Monday the 29th. You need to write two questions based on the reading and posted here by 11:59 PM on Sunday the 28th.

Each post is graded on a 4 point scale and what follows is the rubric:

4 points - Questions are posted on time, there are two of them, you reference a portion of the reading, provide a page number, written according to the top 4 levels of Bloom's taxonomy.

3 points - Questions are posted on time, there are two of them, you reference a portion of the reading, provide a page number, questions too simply worded and NOT focusing on top 4 levels of Bloom.

2 points - Same as three but forgetting to paraphrase of provide page number.

1 point - Post is late. One point automatically.

0 points - Does not post.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

Get Ready for Reflective Writing

You will be using the blogs you set up to write reflectively about your experience with this class and/or the resources and materials you encounter. You don't need to write anything yet, but now is a great time to read a couple relevant sources on reflective writing.

The University of Central Florida has a good page.

Here's one from from the good ol' UK.

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Blogging Articles for Fri. January 26th

Hopefully you were all able to stay with me in class today about group numbers and your number within the group. Below are the readings for Friday. Find the your individual number and read the approriate article. You should read it in such as way that you can explain the contents to the rest of your group.
That's it! No questions need to be written for the readings...just come prepared.

Monday, January 22, 2007

The New York Times on Social Networking

The New York Times has placed an article on sites that are integrating social networking components. The term "social network" make not be familiar to you, but it will be. A quick readof the article will hep you understand the concept better.

Reading for January 24th

You need to read S1:U2 in your textbook for Wednesday's class. We are still in the practice mode for writing your questions, so just come up with one question and post it by 11:59 PM on Tuesday (1/23). I'm giving you a little more time to get the questions posted.

Remember what was said in class about providing a context for the question you come up with.

Next week we'll get to the two questions for each chapter and I'll start keeping track for a grade.

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Preparing Questions about Readings

For Monday you will need to read S1:U1 from your textbook. If you remember what the syllabus says, there will be times when you will need to generate "deep" questions about your readings. In order to get you used to this process and to help you learn how to write good questions, you should follow the quick steps I'm detailing here.

First read the following resources about questions:
You don't need to understand everything, but you will have a better idea of how to write good questions.

Next, try generating one really good question about the reading for Monday. Just one for now, but make it really good.

When you have that question, post it in the comments section for this post by 6 PM Sunday, January 21st.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Reading (short one) for Friday Jan 19th

For Friday, please read this short question and answer session with Technocritic Christine Rosen. You obviously don't have to agree with her on everything, but please note the places where you agree, disagree, or thing she might be slightly off. I'm not sharing this because I necessiarily agree with everything she write, I share it because it stimulate thought.

Welcome to COM-SPE 301

This is the blog for COM-SPE 301 Electronic Communication. This blog is how I intend to communicate with you throughout the semester. I'll tell you more about how to use this as the time comes.