This advanced composition course proceeds from the premise that digital environments are changing how we read, write, design, research, and preserve knowledge and cultural memory. Through a series of case studies and experiments, students will creatively and critically engage the changing landscape of digital media while self-consciously reflecting on broader questions about reading, writing, attention, memory, literacy, and the humanities. In the process, students will be introduced to a number of different formats and technologies, and provided practical experience in composing for a number of multimedia genres, including blogs, infographics, multimodal essays, Pecha Kucha presentations, and online digital exhibits.
Designed as an introduction and workshop, the class will appeal to licensure students looking to expand their pedagogical toolkit; literature majors curious about recent methodological debates in the humanities; creative and academic writers hoping to improve their composition and design skills; and professional writers concerned with expanding their skills to include new forms of digital literacy. Course requirements include active participation, blogging, a literacy and technology narrative, a book review, a research project, and a digital portfolio. Students will also work in teams to collaborate on an online exhibit associated with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, one of the leading archives in the field of children’s literature.
Note: This class assumes no prior technological experience. I will provide detailed instructions on how to use different technologies, and you’ll have plenty of time to workshop and experiment with them in a safe, collaborative environment. All students are welcome – even if you’ve never used a computer, opened a web browser, or snapped a selfie.
