Assignment 1: Taking Notes and Getting Started

I decided to attempt assignment 1 of my syllabus as fulfillment for the 8010 requirement:

• 3. Assignment/Performance (200 pts)You will design and complete a major assignment for your course. The assignment must involve technology directly (using weblogs/websites) or indirectly (teaching technology oriented assignments even if they are on paper – mystory, temporal juxtaposition). You must give yourself time as well in order to properly complete your own assignment. Do not wait until the final week to do your own assignment. You are graded on the quality of the assignment designed as well as how well you do your own assignment.

My first assignment comes in three parts and each part has a component of peer response. The first two parts involve blogging, while the third will be in class peer responses. Since you are my class, I’ll be leaning on you to read my first two entries.Part I - Choosing a SpaceThe space I have chosen for my walk about is a trip to Louisville Kentucky. I chose this space for a few reasons.

• I thought I might have more time to write, being away from home.
• I’ll have my camera, my laptop, and my notebook with me so I can take notes in several mediums.
• I liked Louisville in the spring time, so thought it might make for some more exciting exciting or exotic ideas than what I find around home.

Problem 1 - I started out deciding to use the whole trip. I had everything I needed by the morning after my flight landed. This is a process that will be different for different students. It will vary by inspiration, focus, location, and other factors. I need to find a way to explain that to students before they begin. Part II - Note Taking I am taking notes with photos, on my laptop, and scribbled on pieces of handy paper. Part of my mixed media approach is due to my love of photography, and my habits as a poet. I write on anything that sits still long enough. The important thing is to catch the moment before the inspiration fades. A quick snapshot, a single line. I found myself getting a bit caught up in the writing process as I was taking notes and I had to stop myself a couple of times.Problem 2 - When I started to take notes down, there was so many that if I actually took 4-6 hours, I would have had thousands of notes and picking three texts from them would be totally unmanageable. I need to explain the note taking process of the walk about better. Focusing just on things that catch your attention, and break it up into two parts. General note taking, then more focused note taking on the texts that you pick to write about in part III. Part III - Choose 3 texts from your trip and something about you.

1. Airport Tarmac
2. Race Horses
3. Louisville Skywalk
4. About Me: I lack directional sense.

I picked these three items from my notes as they are all unfamiliar to me in some way, and unconnected to one another. There is no obvious connection between the three. I chose to write about my lack of directional sense because I had to explain to the concierge why I needed a map t the Kinkos 3 blocks away. The next part of my assignment is to write 250 - 300 words about each one of the four items above. These narratives should be the things I know about them from my initial notes. Nothing researched. After I write my narratives, this assignment will be graded from 0 - 50 points. Problem 3- Grading. I need a better rubric for this part. Something that tells the students exactly what I expect in terms of effort and content. IE: How much for blogging, how much for notes, how much for the narratives.

• Cheers! (between meetings and overpriced dinners) I just started trying one of my own assignments and as you can see, I ran into snags. I’d love some help with ways I might overcome them. I’ll post the assignment on the wiki.