apcampbell

Several changes have taken place for the course I’ll be tutoring this semester, now entitled Interactive Webpublishing.  I’ve somewhat de-emphasized the action research/learning approach and am attempting to encourage learners to cultivate their own personal learning community by incorporating the use of aggregators and RSS feeds, and implementing various search and networking strategies to locate, track, and include ‘outsiders’ in their learning process.  The course will still employ a cooperative learning structure.  Students will have midterm and final evaluations, and will be required to write a final thesis paper, demonstrating what they’ve learned from their readings and from their experience of using their interactive website as a learning tool.  Here’s a brief description:

Interactive webpublishing is a hands on, experiential course designed to help students support their other learning at the Center.  Students will decide upon their own learning projects and will use weblogs (blogs) to both document their learning process and build an archive of discourse while conversing with others.  Blogs, similar to online journals, allow readers to offer feedback in the form of comments and discussion. In addition to providing this feedback to one another, each student will also be required to attract the participation of those outside the Center, such as family, friends, and/or other bloggers.  In the process of participating in each others’ learning and reflecting on the online trail of discussion, students can take in multiple perspectives and see patterns in their thinking and behavior, shedding light on blind spots in their learning, and increasing their self awareness.   In addtition to running a weblog, students will learn computer networking skills to cultivate their own personal learning communities and to access and incorporate information relevant to their studies. Learners will be required to carry out midterm and final peer and self evaluations, and will be asked to write a final paper supported by their readings and examples from their online experience.