Why this class? Your Goals?

I am attending Teaching with Technology because most of my teaching career has consisted of teaching with various forms of technology whether by choice or required. I think that technology does help with writing instruction. However, I also think that often times the technology takes over the course or is depended upon too much by instructors. I am interested in exploring effective use of technology in the composition classroom. What does that even mean? I am also interested in online or distance education. I began my teaching career by teaching online. I am fascinated by distance education because it was so greatly embraced but not, in my opinion, thoroughly explored or challenged. Hence, we have for-profit institutions and now MOOCS. I am interested in exploring the teaching of writing in these environments due to their novel nature and also because I taught for several for-profits and the experiences were all very negative.

My goals in this course are to develop a solid teaching philosophy in regards to how I incorporate and utilize technology. I also hope to develop a solid theoretical framework in regards to analyzing for-profits and MOOCs.

Digital Literacy:

Computer literacy and digital skills; I think these are two separate things. Digital literacy incorporates a variety of knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors. I think digital literacy also has to do a lot to do with the ability to navigate in unknown online environments. The ability to enter into a space, explores, and be comfortable enough to find your way. I think people who are digitally literate can usually.

Three terms: attitudes, ability, explore. These are all very abstract. How do you write about such a thing? I guess attitude could mean the approach to or behavior in digital environments. I’m sure in regards to exploring I am referring to those people who enter into a new digital environment and freeze up rather than just start clicking on things because they have a sense or certain comfort level that most digital things work off the same formula. One of these types of button will allow me to do X, Y, or Z. In regards to ability, I’m not sure what that means in regards to digital literacy. Everyone has the ability to be digitally literate. It is whether or not they choose to increase their literacy. I think digital literacy like any literacy requires one to use it or lose it.