some final 2010 musings.

Just a short entry to say that today I (and DeeGee and Lynda) finished the flyer to advertise the online teaching circle.  I sent it on to Richard Jewell.  Now I have to think about when the first meeting will be, where, how much food to order, etc.   Oh decisions, decisions!  Still, I hope it will all be fun.

I also finished editing Daryl Parks's paper for MEJ today and sent it back to him.  I have only one more paper to finish editing--and hopefully I will be able to work on it tomorrow, when I get my flash drive back from my sis (yeah, I left it in Michigan...............silly me!!!)

I wish the many readers of this blog a happy and prosperous new year.  :)

Peace,

Brian

12/16---mid-december musings.

Well, if I were at school this term, it'd be the end of the semester.  It's strange not to be caught up in the frenzy of grading papers and such.  Quite peaceful and relaxing, actually. 

I want to include some reflection here about what I've done so far with my sabbatical and what I still need to do.  But before I do that, I want to mention a site that caught my eye on cnn.com yetserday called http://www.crowdrise.com/.  It's an online philanthropy site and operates very similarly to facebook.  People can start their own donation pages, donate to other pages, and even "earn points" for their invovlement.  I have not yet joined (apparently it's easy to do so), but I was thinking that this would be an interesting service learning project for an online class, especially.  Perhaps for GLBT studies?

Okay, what have I done so far on my sabbatical:

• Updated syllabi for 1021, 0090, 2011.
• Updated all Class Plans for 2011 (Summer 2011).
• Updated some handouts/assignments for 1021 and 2011.
• Created new Week 1 Agenda for 1021 online (Summer 2011).
• Worked on Pearson custom readers for 0090, 1021, and 1022.
• Learned how to use a lot of online tools, including the following:  Google Apps (including Reader, Calendar, Docs, and Talk), WebEx, Yodio, Wordle, Mapskip, Vocaroo (for online voice messages), TitanPad (for online collaboration), Diigo, Delicious, and others.
• Read/skimmed several books to facilitate the learning of these tools and others involving social networking and collaboration (such as Facebook).
• On the basis of these new tools I've been learning, I created a new "Group Technology Project" to use in my composition courses (and possibly in my literature course as well).
• Prepared an ad and grant application for an online teaching circle on "Digital Technologies," to be completed next term on my sabbatical.
• Attended TYCA Conference in Des Moines.
• Along with an editorial committee, selected pieces to be published in MEJ (Minnesota English Journal) and worked individually via e-mail with selected authors to revise/edit their work for publication.
• Worked on and revised Precious/Push article for publication in MEJ (it was selected pending minor revisions).
• Worked on article on use of avatars in online/hybrid classrooms.

Here's what I need to do next term:

• Update Agenda, materials, and handouts through (at least) Week 3 in English 1021 online.
• Update Agenda, materials, and handouts through (at least) Week 3 in English 0090 online AND English 0090 ftf (for Fall 2011).
• Update syllabi, schedule, materials, handouts through (at least) Week 3 in WGST 1071.
• Post all materials to D2L that I can for 0090, 1021, 2011, and WGST 1071.
• Attend CCCC in Atlanta and MCTE in Brainerd; also possibly attend Computers and Writing Conference in Ann Arbor, MI in May.
• Submit proposal for MCTE (by Jan. 1, 2011)
• Continue working with authors to revise/edit their work for MEJ.  They must send me revisions by Jan. 15, 2011.
• Get MEJ DONE AND POSTED by Feb. 1, 2011.
• Update Google website and personal e-folio to reflect sabb. work (by May)
• Complete avatar article (end of Feb.)
• Perhaps start article on Writing Centers and/or book review(s).
• Facilitate the Online Teaching Circle through the CTL.

I don't think I need to spend as much time next term on looking for classroom tools, nor will I need to spend as much time on MEJ.  However, I think more of the focus will be on using and applying the information I've learned so far.  It'll be nice to have MEJ done in February (I hope).

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to all who read this humble blog.  :)

Brian

12/6--A possible research essay rubric for amer. lit.

I know that one of the first things I'll have to grade when I return to teaching is an essay on my American Literature midterm. So today I tried to develop a rubric that I thought might fit well with that essay. (It is written here below.)

Research Essay Rubric

Grade	A	B	C	D	F
Introduction ·         Captures audience’s attention. ·         Transitions well to main purpose. ·         Thesis works: is clear and makes sense.
Body ·         Consistent focus on topic (theme, character type, and/or symbol). ·         Makes use of specific, descriptive detail consistently. ·         Effective transitions exist within and/or between key sections. ·         Makes strong use of evidence to prove its points. ·         Uses AT LEAST TWO authoritative secondary sources to prove its points. ·         Uses quotes correctly. ·         Evidence is well-analyzed—significance of evidence/detail is explained within each paragraph of essay.
Conclusion ·         Effectively summarizes discussion ·         Explains significance of topic. ·         Contains an effective clincher that engages the reader.
Additional Issues ·         Contains few, if any, mechanical errors. ·         Proper MLA format used. ·         Word count met.
Totals/Final Comments

Eventually, I will likely assign point values to each blank space (except for the last row, of course, which involves totals). 

I notice that this rubric is pretty similar to old ones that I've done.  The only difference is that it's a bit more streamlined: in a table, with the categories more clearly defined, with fewer point values popping up for each individual criteria.  It seems to be a bit more holistic over, which is perhaps a good thing.