It was with great pleasure that I reviewed the TLTL 6206 powerpoint assignment today. Every member of the group made an effort to ensure it was NOT "Death by Powerpoint"..Oh Happy Day! Actual 10-minute presentations, concise, good use of graphics, what more could I ask for?
I am looking forward to being impressed by the article critiques. I am expecting considered views, supported by other scholarly work. I know when people get involved in hands-on work such as creating a blended course they tend to forget there is need for balance and there is a theoretical side as well. It may not be as much fun but it provides the context for what we do.
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I can't help but to chuckle a bit with the "impressed by the article critiques" part. I am confident that my classmates will do an excellent job but as for me, I am finding a bit of difficulty in trying to grasp what the author is even saying. I believe that I have a vague idea. I will continue to read. I have other ideas in my head. I have to remember to what I am saying firmly supported in the literature as you are saying. What I would say is that I am looking forward to receiving feedback on the assignment as I would like to improve on my academic writing as I see the importance of this.
ReplyDeleteThe point of the activity is to get you engaged in academic writing and scholarly critique. You will improve as you continue reviewing academic writing and doing more of your own. I am looking forward to reading the critiques.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with Dionne, the rest of the class may do an excellent job but Dionne forgot to say except Hazra. I know Dionne can express herself but academically I think we just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteI have every confidence that all students will do their best and learn from the experience. As Dion pointed out this is part of the growth process. Remember Sir Ken Robinson's Lecture on Creativity in Education? Children and creative because they are not afraid to fail? They try things!
ReplyDeleteThis obviously isn't a CUTL discussion, but since I'm trying to keep up with my blogging let me butt in. This week I tried for my students to not critique, but to identify the main points in a scholarly article on a novel we're studying and present these on a concept map for a tutorial exercise. I'd given them a handout on the making of a good summary for a credit assignment they have to do, so I was curious to see if they could transfer some of the information learnt to that particular exercise. They are Level 1 students, so it proved difficult for most of them, i.e. most didn't understand what the writer was trying to say. Only 3 of them really attempted the concept map (even though I'd given them web links so they could see the different kinds of map available; one student said she wasn't sure which to use), and those were the ones who were able to better articulate what the writer was getting at. I realize the article was a bit above them, so next time I'll choose something simpler; and that I could have given them more guidelines on how to read a scholarly article. I did tell them afterwards it was given for them to start engaging with critical material. But, another example of how we learn when we teach.
ReplyDeleteThanks for butting in Geraldine. Although this is not a CUTL discussion I appreciate the interaction which can only enhance the overall discussion. This was a valuable comment.
ReplyDeleteAfter reviewing what I get from the group I will perhaps see whether I need to make any changes to the assignment the next time around.
I was happy for the power point assignment because it forced me to incorporate it into my course which is a developing course. Relieved to hear we did well! Scholarly writing is not an easy task, it takes alot from you, alot of time, effort and energy. For me, it's hard to dedicate that amount of time to get these assignments properly done. It's not something you can do the day before or the night...:-) That's my challenge.
ReplyDeleteAmanda is right. The real challenge is finding the time to allocare to academic writing which is a stern mistress - no slap-dash approaches, today for tomorrow work.
ReplyDeleteI am yet to do justice to the required tasks but I am learning that scheduling and staying within schedule is mandatory; also allocating time for possible mishaps which always seem to occur. I'll get there sooner rather than later I hope.
This is something I thoroughly enjoyed cause, I had long been associated with ppt particularly reviewing others stuff and also have attended few workshops earlier. But still, it was good to hear again some important points in this topic through this course. My suggestion to you is Pl' throw few workshops for our local faculty members to train them on the the basics of PPT (dos and don'ts) as many of our colleagues lack expertise in using this particular tool effectively or somewhat naive. Since it has become the universal teaching tool it would be good if you offer some general suggestions and specifications to those who do not know or haven't been to this or any other training.
ReplyDelete-Jaya