by on December 18, 2015

Course Grades Posted

checking-my-grades-f2307bI have finished grading all the work for the course and submitted course grades in HokieSpa. As a reminder, I use a Virginia Tech’s default grade scale (no rounding). Thank you so much for your work this term. Have a great break.

Unsubscribing from the Course Website and Twitter Updates

If you subscribed to the course website at the beginning of the term, you probably want to unsubscribe now. Look for an unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email message that you get from the course website.

If you were following the course Twitter account (@VTtengrrl), just go to the page in Twitter and click the Unfollow button.


 
Last updated on 18th December, 2015, 4:46 AM
Filed Under: Class Posts
by on December 9, 2015

Remix Presentations, Day Four

This is the post for the Wednesday, December 9, 2015 class meeting, our last day 🙁Puppies trying to squirm out the door, with the caption, How I feel on the last day of school

For Fun

Shakespearean Carols—Shakespearean plots + Christmas carol melodies

Presentations

10:10 class presentations will be from these folks:

11:15 class presentations will be from these folks:

Complete a Short Survey

Please complete this 4-question survey to help me make decisions about how to teach the class in the future. You may need to login with your vt.edu email address and password. Your answers will not effect your grade in the course.

Remaining To-Do’s

  1. Complete the SPOT survey if you haven’t yet.

  2. Submit your remix by 11:55 PM on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (end of grace period), following the instructions posted on November 30.

  3. Take the final exam. The rubric for the final has been posted in Canvas. If your work is not submitted by noon on Wednesday, December 16 (end of grace period), you will receive a zero.

  4. Watch your email for two announcements next week:
    • One will tell you when I have all the remixes graded.
    • The other will tell you when the course grades are finalized.
  5. Remember that  I do not round grades and that I do not provide extra credit. The grade scale is on the syllabus.

 
Last updated on 9th December, 2015, 9:26 AM
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by on December 7, 2015

Remix Presentations, Day Three

This is the post for the Monday, December 7, 2015 class meeting.

Presentations

chucknorris-presentation10:10 class presentations will be from these folks:

11:15 class presentations will be from these folks:

Remaining To-Do’s

  1. If you are presenting Wednesday, submit the link to your presentation in the "Remix Presentation" assignment in Canvas by 9 PM on Tuesday, 12/8.

  2. Complete the SPOT survey if you haven’t yet. The Department uses your feedback to make decisions about teaching methods, course content, and faculty promotion. Written comments help me decide what to keep or change the next time I teach the course.

  3. Submit your remix by 11:55 PM on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (end of grace period), following the instructions posted Monday.

  4. Take the final exam. The rubric for the final has been posted in Canvas. If your work is not submitted by noon on Wednesday, December 16 (end of grace period), you will receive a zero.


 
Last updated on 7th December, 2015, 5:25 PM
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by on December 4, 2015

Remix Presentations, Day Two

This is the post for the Friday, December 4, 2015 class meeting.

Presentations

Cat says, This presentation will blow your mind10:10 class presentations will be from these folks:

11:15 class presentations will be from these folks:

Remaining To-Do’s

  1. If you are presenting Monday, submit the link to your presentation in the "Remix Presentation" assignment in Canvas by 9 PM on Sunday, 12/6.

  2. Complete the SPOT survey if you haven’t yet. The Department uses your feedback to make decisions about teaching methods, course content, and faculty promotion. Written comments help me decide what to keep or change the next time I teach the course.

  3. Submit your remix by 11:55 PM on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (end of grace period), following the instructions posted Monday.

  4. Take the final exam. If your work is not submitted by noon on Wednesday, December 16 (end of grace period), you will receive a zero.


 
Last updated on 4th December, 2015, 9:40 AM
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by on December 2, 2015

Remix Presentations, Day One

This is the post for the Wednesday, December 2, 2015 class meeting.

cat-presentation11:15 class: Please log into your computer for today’s presentations. One of the presenters wants you to view her project at your own workstation.

Presentations

10:10 class presentations will be from these folks:

11:15 class presentations will be from these folks:

Remaining To-Do’s

  1. If you are presenting Friday, submit the link to your presentation in the "Remix Presentation" assignment in Canvas by 9 PM on Thursday, 12/3.

  2. Complete the SPOT survey if you haven’t yet. The Department uses your feedback to make decisions about teaching methods, course content, and faculty promotion. Written comments help me decide what to keep or change the next time I teach the course.

  3. Submit your remix by 11:55 PM on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 (end of grace period), following the instructions posted Monday.

  4. Take the final exam. If your work is not submitted by noon on Wednesday, December 16 (end of grace period), you will receive a zero.


 
Last updated on 2nd December, 2015, 9:54 AM
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by on November 30, 2015

Project 4 Presentations & Final Exam

This is the post for the week of Monday, November 30, 2015 class meeting.

Brace Yourself. A presentation is coming.Today’s post covers your presentations, submitting your remix, and taking the final exam. Today is the last day you will have to work on Project 4 in class. After today, class sessions will be devoted to presentations of Project 4. I will not hold office hours today, so that I can go to the doctor.

PSAs

Presentations

Preparing Your Presentation

In-class presentations of Project 4 will take place from Wednesday, 12/2 through Wednesday, 12/9. The presentation page includes details on what you need to include.

You may prepare a slideshow about your project and/or show the project itself. The remote control clicker usually works with PowerPoint, Google Slides, and Prezi. Unfortunately, however, PowerPoint sometimes crashes on the Mac teacher station. Use Google Slides if you can.

Use what you know about multimodal composing to create a strong presentation. An average presentation would include screens full of text and lots of reading off of the screen or your notes.  A stronger presentation would use  the 1/1/5 organizational strategy (using no more than 15 slides to fit into the 5 minute timeframe). 

The Night Before Your Presentation

Submit the link to your presentation in the "Remix Presentation" assignment in Canvas by 9 PM the night before your presentation time slot, so that I can set up the post for the day’s class. There is no grace period for presentations, and there are no make-up presentations.

During Presentations

Please be polite and pay attention to your classmates. Provide positive and/or constructive feedback.If you are absent or not being respectful, you will lower your presentation grade.

Submitting Project 4

Follow these instructions to upload your work, add the reflection comments, and submit your work. The grace period for the project ends at 11:59 PM on Wednesday, December 9 (the last day of class).

  1. Go to our course in Canvas.
  2. Choose Assignments from the left sidebar.
  3. Choose "Project 4: Remix a Story."
  4. Click the big Submit Assignment button on the upper right. You’ll see this submission form:
    URL submission in Canvas
  5. Paste the URL to your remix in the Website URL box.
  6. Type your reflection comments in the Comments…box (indicated by the orange arrow):
    • Tell me what grade you aimed for (e.g., I aimed for a B+ by including headings and …..).
    • Explain how you incorporated risk into the project.
    • Share anything else you want me to know before I grade your project.
  7. Click the Submit Assignment button, and your work will be turned in.

Final Exam

Submission Dates

Official due dates:

  • 10:10 course: Due by 9:45 AM on Wednesday, 12/16
  • 11:15 course: Due by 5:25 PM on Monday, 12/14

End of Grace Period: If you need additional time, submit your final by noon on Wednesday, 12/16. If your work is not in by noon, you will receive a zero. Because I have to turn in course grades, I cannot extend the grace period beyond noon on the 12/16 unless you have a letter from the Dean of Students indicating extenuating circumstances.

Assignment

Your exam is a take-home, and it will consist of creating a revision and sustainability plan for your online portfolio site.


 
Last updated on 1st December, 2015, 11:43 PM
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by on November 16, 2015

Project 4 Work, Review, & Revisions

This is the post for the week of Monday, November 16, 2015 class meeting.

Group of turkeys, with the caption, Something's up. The farmer just unfriended me on FacebookToday’s post covers the work for the entire week. You can jump ahead to the plans for each day with these links:

There is work to be submitted for Wednesday’s and Friday’s class sessions. Be sure to turn in everything on time to get credit for your work.

Monday’s Session (11/16)

Signing Up for Your Presentation Time Slot

Once everyone has a computer logged into Canvas, we will use the Scheduler tool in the Calendar (Canvas Documentation) to sign up for presentation time slots. Sign up is first-come, first-served. Check out the Project 4 Presentations page for full details on what you need to present and how to submit your presentation link.

Reviewing the Week’s Work

We’ll review the plans for the week, which are all below. Spend your time in class today working on whatever part of your project you need to. I’ll help with any questions. Remember that effort is part of the calculation for your grade, so be sure that you are working during the entire class session.

Submitting Your Draft for Peer Review

Post your link in the Peer Review for Project 4 Discussion in Canvas (Canvas Documentation ) for peer feedback by 11:59 PM on Tuesday, November, 11/17 (no grace period). Follow the directions in Canvas for the information to include. Submit whatever you have. You can add details in your post on any significant work you still need to do.

Wednesday’s Online Session (11/18)

Remember that there will be no classroom meeting and that I will not have any office hours. Allow 24 hours or so for me to respond to any email messages, since I will be busy with dental work and the aftermath.

Providing Peer Review Feedback

At 12:03 AM Wednesday, Canvas will automatically assign you two classmates, whom you will provide with peer feedback. Respond to the two drafts you have been assigned for Peer Feedback, following the instructions in the Peer Review for Project 4 Discussion in Canvas by 11:59 on 11/18. The grace period ends at 11:59 PM on Thursday, 11/19.

Friday’s Online Session (11/20)

Remember that there will be no classroom meeting and that I will not have any office hours.

Writing Your Revision Plan

Write your revision plan, using a word processor, following the instructions on the Revision Plan page. Find the information on revision plans on pp. 116–118 of Writer/Designer. Write and submit your revision plan for Project 4 by 11:59 PM on Friday, 11/20. The grace period ends 11:59 PM Sunday, 11/22.

After Thanksgiving Break

Monday, 11/30
We’ll go over how to submit Project 4 and the assignment for the final exam.

Wednesday, 12/2 through Wednesday, 12/9
In-class presentations of Project 4. Submit the link to your presentation by 9 PM the night before your presentation. There is no grace period for presentations, and there are no make-up presentations.

Final Exam
Official due dates

  • 10:10 course: Due by 9:45 AM on Wednesday, 12/16
  • 11:15 course: Due by 5:25 PM on Monday, 12/14

Your exam is a take-home, and it will consist of creating a revision and sustainability plan for your online portfolio site. We will go over the assignment on Monday, 11/30.

End of Grace Period: If you need additional time, submit your final by noon on Wednesday, 12/16. If your work is not in by noon, you will receive a zero. Because I have to turn in course grades, I cannot extend the grace period beyond noon on the 12/16 unless you have a letter from the Dean of Students indicating extenuating circumstances.


 
Last updated on 16th November, 2015, 12:08 AM
Filed Under: Class Posts
by on November 13, 2015

Project 4 Work Day

This is the post for the Friday, November 13, 2015 class meeting.

ICYMI: Presentation Sign-Up Is Monday

Black kitten with caption, It's Friday the 13th? Oh no. I has to be evil today.Presentation sign-up will be on Monday. Be in class and ready to choose your time slot when the sign-up form opens. In your presentation, you will show off your project, talking about what you did and why you did it. It’s okay if your project isn’t quite finished. You will present whatever you have.

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" as a Comic

Here’s a marvelous remix of T. S. Eliot’s "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" as a comic by Julian Peters. On the site, you will find a few other literary comics.

Work Day

Spend your time in class today working on whatever part of your project you need to. I’ll help with any questions. Remember that effort is part of the calculation for your grade, so be sure that you are working!

In-Class Writing for Friday

If you have not done so already, go to the "Rough Cut Progress" quiz in Canvas and explain the decisions you have made for your project. See the information on pp. 107–109 of Writer/Designer for help.

Homework

For today, do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "Rough Cut Progress" quiz in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 5:30 PM on Sunday, 11/15.

For Monday, do the following before class:

  • Be on time for presentation sign-up.
  • Be prepared to work in class.
  • Read Chapter 8 of Writer/Designer. Pay particular attention to the information on presenting your "Reporting on Your Final Project" (pp. 132–133).

For Tuesday, 11/17, do the following:

  • Post your Project 4 draft by 11:59 PM for peer review (no grace period). Peer review partners will be automatically assigned after midnight.

For Wednesday, 11/18, do the following:

  • No classroom meeting. No office hours.
  • Work online to respond to the two partners you have been assigned by 11:59 PM. Grace period ends 11:59 PM Thursday, 11/19.
  • Allow 24 hours or so for me to respond to any email messages, since I will be busy with dental work and the aftermath.

For Friday, 11/20, do the following:

  • No classroom meeting. No office hours.
  • Write and submit your revision plan for Project 4 by 11:59 PM. Grace period ends 11:59 PM Sunday, 11/22.

For TurkeyThanksgiving Break: Nov 21 to Nov 29turkey, have a restful, fantastic vacation.


 
Last updated on 13th November, 2015, 10:47 AM
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by on November 11, 2015

Rough Cuts and Revision Plans

This is the post for the Wednesday, November 11, 2015 class meeting.

Upcoming Schedule

Fri, 11/13 Work on your project in-class and mini-conferences
Mon, 11/16 Sign-up for presentations; discuss Chapter 8 and plans for the week
Tue, 11/17 Post your Project 4 draft by 11:59 PM for peer review (no grace period). Peer review partners will be automatically assigned after midnight.
Wed, 11/18 Work online to respond to the two partners you have been assigned by 11:59 PM. Grace period ends 11:59 PM Th, 11/19. No classroom meeting.
Fri, 11/20 Write and submit your revision plan for Project 4 by 11:59 PM. Grace period ends 11:59 PM Su, 11/22. No classroom meeting.
TurkeyThanksgiving Break: Nov 21 to Nov 29turkey
Mon, Nov 30 Discuss submission for Project 4 and the final exam assignment. Project 4 due by 11:59 PM
Wed, Dec 2 through Wed, Dec 9 In-class Presentations (no grace period for presentations). Link to your presentation is due by 11:59 PM the day before you present.
Wed, Dec 9 Project 4 Grace Period ends at 11:59 PM
Exam Week Final Exam (officially):

  • 10:10 course: Due by 9:45 AM on Wed, Dec 16
  • 11:15 course: Due by 5:25 PM on Mon, Dec 14

 

Presentation Sign-Up

roughwolfPresentation sign-up will be on Monday. Be in class and ready to choose your time slot when the sign-up form opens. In your presentation, you will show off your project, talking about what you did and why you did it. It’s okay if your project isn’t quite finished. You will present whatever you have.

Rough Cuts, Rough Drafts, and Revision Plans

  • A rough cut (for timeline-based projects) or prototype (for static projects) is usually rougher, or less finished, than a rough draft.

  • The “Planning Your Rough Cut” section of Chapter 7 (pp. 107–109) includes lists of the basic decisions you should make by the time you have a rough cut. You need to answer the questions in the "Rough Cut Progress" quiz by the end of class on Friday (grace period will end on Sunday at 5:30 PM).

  • You will use the following information next week:

    • Tue, 11/17: Explain your rhetorical situation (pp. 111–112) when you submit your draft for peer review.
    • Wed, 11/18: Use the questions for providing feedback (pp. 112–115) when you give feedback to your partners
    • Fri, 11/20: Follow the information on revision plans (pp. 116–118) to plan your remaining work on the project.

In-Class Writing for Today or Friday

Go to the "Rough Cut Progress" quiz in Canvas and explain the decisions you have made for your project. See the information on pp. 107–109 of Writer/Designer for help.

Homework

For Friday, do the following before class:

  • Be prepared to work in class.
  • Have your textbook if you have not finished the "Rough Cut Progress" quiz. Grace period ends at 5:30 PM on Sunday, 11/15.

For Monday, do the following before class:

  • Be on time for presentation sign-up.
  • Be prepared to work in class.
  • Read Chapter 8 of Writer/Designer. Pay particular attention to the information on presenting your "Reporting on Your Final Project" (pp. 132–133).

 
Last updated on 11th November, 2015, 2:32 AM
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by on November 9, 2015

Creating a Documentation Plan

This is the post for the Monday, November 9, 2015 class meeting.Snape with the caption, No Documentation? 10 Points from Gryffindor

Finding Assets for Your Project

Permissions for your assets fall into three categories, all of which require documentation:

  • Protected by Copyright—You will have to ask the owner for permission or prove Fair Use. Use the Copyright Genie.

  • In the Public Domain—You can use these freely, without seeking additional permission.

  • Protected by Creative Commons—You need to check the license. See p. 68 of Writer/Designer.

Use the Where can I find graphics that I can use in my projects? FAQ for links to public domain and creative commons assets.

Documenting Your Asset Sources

The point of documentation is to give credit to the author/maker and to show your audience where to find the original version.

No matter what kind of assets, you need to cite your sources. Here’s a little flowchart that tells you everything you need to know:

Do I Need to Cite This?

Yes, that is a little reductive, but generally, if you didn’t make it, you need to say who did. Use the flowchart on the blog post Can I Use that Picture? The Terms, Laws, and Ethics for Using Copyrighted Images, by Curtis Newbold, to decide what you need to cite and whether the use of the resource falls under fair use.

Here are some other important tips:

Designing Your Documentation System

Following the information in Writer/Designer (p. 70), your need to accomplish two things with your documentation:

  1. Provide enough information about each source so that readers can find it themselves.
  2. Use a citation style that is credible within the context of the genre you’ve chosen to produce.

You have to decide what works best for your project. If you ask me "Is it okay if I [insert whatever you want to do] for my documentation?" I am going to ask you how the system you are proposing accomplishes those two things.

You need to think about both where you will include the citations and what format you will use for those citations.

In-Class Writing

Go to the "Documentation Plan" quiz in Canvas and explain how you will design and present the citations for your project. See the information on pp. 70–76 of Writer/Designer for help.

Homework

For today, do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "Documentation Plan" quiz in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 5:30 PM Tuesday (11/10).

For Wednesday, do the following before class:

  • Check online to be sure we are still meeting in the classroom.
  • Read Chapter 7 of Writer/Designer. We’ll talk about rough cuts and rough drafts.

 
Last updated on 9th November, 2015, 9:41 AM
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