nclc249_groups

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING: One-credit of experiential learning typically requires 45 hours of out-of-class work. However, your experiential learning will include preparation and reflection on each project/assignment. You should therefore expect to spend approximately 25-30 hours in total working outside of class on these projects/assignments, with the remaining hours dedicated to preparation and reflection. Additionally, you will be required to blog about your experiences. You must pass the experiential learning component to pass the learning community as a whole.

Below is a list of the groups that you will be working in for your experiential learning project. Details / Guidelines about the project are below.

GROUPS:

Group # 1: Jessica Alberi, Chris Byers, Diana Gonzales, Jessica Lee

Group # 2: Mariam Alwarith, Jaddah Collins, Asia Gruber, Virginia Lynch

Group # 3: Erin Amos, Jonathan Dobles, Steve Hanafi, Mandissa Marshall, Mark Romero

Group # 4: Marian Ampofo, Melissa Edwards, Marc Hopkins, Chip Martin

Group #5: Chris Brown, Jordan Estrada, Manuela Kamai, Alisa So

Group #6: Lindsey Shull, Karyn Sykes, Brittany Webster, James Williams

GUIDELINES FOR EXPERIENTIAL PROJECT:

This project is comprised of FIVE primary parts:

Research: each group must research an area of concern or debate that deals with issues around the use of digital technologies in everyday life and addresses, in large part, significant factors of “literacy,” which involves various processes of communication using digital technologies and includes the abilities to identify, locate, understand, organize, evaluate, and analyze information and texts (both written and visual) using digital technologies. Whatever you choose to focus on, you will need to be sure to address how your project speaks to specific issues of digital literacy. To give you an idea of what larger areas are open for continued discussion, all you have to do is look at how the syllabus is organized (the sections—i.e. social networking or collective intelligence). You must include, within the body of your final project and accompanying paper, at least TEN sources, only three of which can be from class readings. At least five sources must be scholarly; and the remaining five can be gathered from other authoritative sources (including blogs, news articles, websites, etc.). Your research, furthermore, should be driven by a significant research question.
Field / Experiential Study: In the course of your examination of the issue, your group must spend at least 10 hours doing field investigation. What, exactly, that means will depend upon your project. I will consult with each group to help you determine what this will, should, or can entail. But if, for example, you were to be doing research on how MMORPGs (Massively multiplayer online role-playing games) help develop digital literacy skills –or, conversely, hamper or significantly impact, traditional forms of literacy and cognition, then part of your work for this project would involve either playing a MMORPG and/or watching others play—taking notes on what you observe and how you connect your research with your observations and investigation of the topic in the “field.” Once you determine your project goals, I will help you better determine what form of field investigation will be most beneficial to your project.
Produced and published online: each of your group projects must be “produced” digitally and made available online to the general public. The medium is your choice (i.e. a video, a website, a facebook page, etc.), but you must make sure that your chosen venue offers all the information you gathered and your research in a compelling, visually dynamic, clear, and engaging way, allowing for outside commentary and/or interaction. Again, as with the field / experiential study, the medium and method you choose to present your research will likely be influenced by the topic you choose to address. I will consult with each group on this, as well.
Synthesis paper: each group must produce a 3-4 page paper that synthesizes their research findings, the process of collecting data and research—and what was learned in the various processes, how this project significantly addresses digital literacy, and adds to the larger “conversation” we’ve had in class and through the readings (what other readings or discussion does your project intersect with, how, and how does it build upon or deepen your understanding of the subject?).
Presentation: each group must present their final project to the class on May 2nd.

TIMELINE:

February 29: Project proposals DUE. These must be an outline / summary of your intended research goals (what question is driving your project), an annotated bibliography of at least five sources, what you hope to accomplish in your field / experiential investigation ( and how), and your medium (how you intend to publish your research and using what digital tools).

March 21: Update on progress thus far. By this date, more than half of your research should be accomplished and synthesized (notes), and you should have begun your field/experiential investigations.

April 4: Most of your project should be completed (certainly all of your research and field work), and you should be able to show me, in a class workshop, your progress thus far in creating a digital online publishable project. (For instance, half a video completed, a website created and half the materials up, etc.).

May 2: All projects should be delivered to me via email (links to published work) and you should be prepared to show the class and discuss your project.