Several years ago, I was asked to serve on my intitution's Leadership Team during our process of SACS/COC reaffirmation. I considered this an honor and a priveledge because it gave me an opportunity to learn from and dialogue with senior administrators at the college. As we were trying to muddle through the new requirements of SACS/COS, we learned that the institution would be required to develop a campus-wide quality enhancement plan (QEP). After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that the school's focus would be digital storytelling. It was during these discussions that I actually learned about the concept of "digital storytelling."
As the QEP developed, faculty were offered the opportunity to attend digital storytelling workshops. I was chosen to participate. It was a whirlwind professional development in the sense that the digital storytelling required hours of my time. Time, that I did not have while teaching a full load and serving as department chair of Foreign Languages. I did attend the sessions and developed my narrative and gathered my pictures, but I am still in the process of putting it all together. However, I did complete enough of the project to experience the power of personal narrative. I think it is so ironic that we are taking a class on the power of the personal voice because this is exactly what is needed and most valued in digital storytelling. The technology is a secondary component. The emphasis of digital storytelling is on the writing process in general.... carefully crafting your story to contain only a specific number ofwords, revision, peer readings, editing, etc. Since it is writing intensive, CVCC has chosen to incorporate digital storytelling in our ENG 111 classes. However, it is our hope that personal narrative/digital storytelling will find its way into other disciplines.
If I can discover how to post a digital story, I will try to do that so everyone can see what a powerful teaching tool it is. I have watched several digital stories developed by my students. They truly help you know the "story" of the student.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Posting of Autobiography Paper-Sept.11
Classmates of EDL 7065,
Due to technical difficulties, I was not able to post my entire writing autobiography. However, Betsy did manage to get it posted as a comment. Feel free to take a look. See everyone this afternoon.
Due to technical difficulties, I was not able to post my entire writing autobiography. However, Betsy did manage to get it posted as a comment. Feel free to take a look. See everyone this afternoon.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
My Autobiography as a Writer
I have decided to post a portion of my autobiographical essay that I have written for the Sept. 11 writing assignment. I enjoyed this assignment. It beats statistics reading:) Donna
Webster defines "writing" with many definitions, but the one that speaks to me as a writer is the definition that suggests the "leaving of marks, signs, or evidence." For me, writing has been somewhat of an emotional release. Just as my children are truly my bridge to immortality, I view my writing in the same way. Regardless of the nature of my writing, whether it is an expression of the heart or an expression of academia, it will remain after I have long left this world. It will be a part of someone or something. I will in some sense have left my mark. As I have reflected on my life as a writer, I have taken some time to revisit some of my writings. I have them saved in various places in my home. My journals (one from my freshman year in high school, 1983, and one from my semester in Spain, 1990) remain packed aside my many photo albums. For me, these contain precious memories just as my photos, but the words are my illustrations. The words paint pictures of my experiences during transitional times in my life's journey. Still today, as I reread my entries written years ago, I can recall difficult as well as joyous events in my life. Someday, I will share these with my children.
Again, this is only a portion of my paper. I look forward to sharing the rest on Thursday. See you then. Donna
Webster defines "writing" with many definitions, but the one that speaks to me as a writer is the definition that suggests the "leaving of marks, signs, or evidence." For me, writing has been somewhat of an emotional release. Just as my children are truly my bridge to immortality, I view my writing in the same way. Regardless of the nature of my writing, whether it is an expression of the heart or an expression of academia, it will remain after I have long left this world. It will be a part of someone or something. I will in some sense have left my mark. As I have reflected on my life as a writer, I have taken some time to revisit some of my writings. I have them saved in various places in my home. My journals (one from my freshman year in high school, 1983, and one from my semester in Spain, 1990) remain packed aside my many photo albums. For me, these contain precious memories just as my photos, but the words are my illustrations. The words paint pictures of my experiences during transitional times in my life's journey. Still today, as I reread my entries written years ago, I can recall difficult as well as joyous events in my life. Someday, I will share these with my children.
Again, this is only a portion of my paper. I look forward to sharing the rest on Thursday. See you then. Donna
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
September 4, 2008 Assignment
Well, it is almost near the end of the week and I am just now posting. My schedule has been incredible since I have assumed this new position. As they say in Spanish... "Más vale tarde que nunca" (Better late than never).
I must say that I was very impressed with the virtual world we explored on our first night of class. I was disappointed to learn that I was unable to access it from my office due our firewall. I am still trying to work on this issue so I am optimistic that my technology issues will improve. I have spent the better part of the week trying to get a high speed internet connection at my home. So far,I have not had any luck. My mother and father, who live a mile away, can get charter cable internet. I may just have to commute to their house if necessary. When I say I live in the country, I truly live in the country away from civilization. I did get a chance to work in the AET zone with Dr. Miller after class. We had a chat in the Coffee House.
As far as my writing is concerned, I feel I am too restricted by rules of what good writing should look like. You know all the stuff about organization,thesis statements, three sentences to a paragraph,conclusion, etc. I find it very difficult to include the word "I" in my writing. I have always been taught to write from a third person point of view. I also find it difficult to include the feminine pronouns in my writing...I was taught to only use the masculine pronouns. I know it sounds silly, but these are the underlying issues of why I find written expression difficult. I wish I could simply WRITE without hesitation or question.
This summer I read a dissertation very close to the topic I want to research. It was a pleasure to read. It was not laborious or intense reading. Much of it was written from the first person point of view and seemed to be more of a reflective commentary. It was not filled with difficult vocabulary which made it easy to follow.
I am looking forward to this class and having a completed portfolio. I also look forward to working with my classmates in a collaborative fashion. See you on Thursday.
I must say that I was very impressed with the virtual world we explored on our first night of class. I was disappointed to learn that I was unable to access it from my office due our firewall. I am still trying to work on this issue so I am optimistic that my technology issues will improve. I have spent the better part of the week trying to get a high speed internet connection at my home. So far,I have not had any luck. My mother and father, who live a mile away, can get charter cable internet. I may just have to commute to their house if necessary. When I say I live in the country, I truly live in the country away from civilization. I did get a chance to work in the AET zone with Dr. Miller after class. We had a chat in the Coffee House.
As far as my writing is concerned, I feel I am too restricted by rules of what good writing should look like. You know all the stuff about organization,thesis statements, three sentences to a paragraph,conclusion, etc. I find it very difficult to include the word "I" in my writing. I have always been taught to write from a third person point of view. I also find it difficult to include the feminine pronouns in my writing...I was taught to only use the masculine pronouns. I know it sounds silly, but these are the underlying issues of why I find written expression difficult. I wish I could simply WRITE without hesitation or question.
This summer I read a dissertation very close to the topic I want to research. It was a pleasure to read. It was not laborious or intense reading. Much of it was written from the first person point of view and seemed to be more of a reflective commentary. It was not filled with difficult vocabulary which made it easy to follow.
I am looking forward to this class and having a completed portfolio. I also look forward to working with my classmates in a collaborative fashion. See you on Thursday.
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