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In this class we discuss the course
readings with our cohorts via our Sakai Forum.
Your participation here is very
important, partially because this is where you demonstrate to me and
your classmates that you've read the assigned articles and have
wrestled with the issues presented, but mostly because this is how
we bring the ideas to life.
Here is where I will look first to
grade you on "Participation." An appropriate number of high quality
postings and/or responses will easily garner a letter grade of "B".
Exceptional participation, meaning that you not only promulgate your
own ideas but assist others to elucidate theirs, will attract a
better grade.
Plan on posting one or
two questions/insights/arguments for each assigned reading. I
will read every post in every forum and I will judge the collection
of your posts on its intellectual and academic merit.
Please don't wait for the last minute
and post a bunch of, "Oh yeah. Me too..." messages. This annoys
everyone involved and guarantees you a seat on the bus to GPA
Hell...
How to "Seminar"
Sharing insights and personal stories
that stem from the readings, affirmations or challenges to the
notions the author(s) put forth, discoveries, and questions about
the material are highly encouraged. Random musings about
libraries, computers, the Internet, or life in general are highly
discouraged. Participation in the seminar is a large part of this
course grade, but I'll be focusing more on the quality of your
participation than the quantity. Extra credit is granted to
those who demonstrate the ability to keep the discussion on-topic.
Remember that our purpose during this
time is to bring the ideas in the readings to life. This can
be done by tickling, prodding, slapping, or embracing these ideas.
Anything goes except avoidance and hooliganism. The authors
have bravely and confidently submitted these ideas to the pool of
human knowledge--we will see if they survive your keen analysis.
Bringing in new material to further
your point is highly encouraged. Follow the links presented by
the authors to seek clarification. Post links to outside
resources, but synthesize them so those who do not choose to follow
your link can still follow your argument.
To make it easier for others who read
your comments, please try to cite the portion of the reading to
which you are responding. Provide the title and page number if
possible. Provide a quotation if it is a couple of sentences or
less. Clip and paste the quotation into your message if the
original source is digital.
As a courtesy to others, please do not
quote the entire previous message in your message. The
threaded discussion interface will display your contribution in
context.
The best way to proceed is to get in
the habit, early on, of posting your comments and responses to the
readings so that by the time you have completed all of the lessons
and other assignments, you also will have made a substantial
contribution to our Digital Seminar.
Communication Guidelines
While I will monitor the forum topics,
it is not my intention to answer every post, nor reply to every
opinion. Inter-class responses are highly encouraged.
As the course instructor, I may take
the opportunity to respond or expand, even to challenge something
you've posted as a way to broaden the discussion and prod
everybody's thinking. That's a license I have as the instructor. I
use it frequently and trust you will understand that I am well
intentioned and that if anything I say offends or otherwise bothers
you, you will let me know. This is a courtesy which should be
extended to every other member of the course.
The instructor reserves the right to
remove postings which are not germane to the course material,
offensive, or violate the university's Acceptable Use policy.
Students are reminded that this is a classroom forum and that the
same rules and courtesy apply in the digital domain (even more so,
since your contributions will be recorded for posterity in a digital
format).
If somebody has said or done something to
offend you and your human dignity, please let me know and I will
intervene accordingly. Otherwise, if you find something
somebody says is politically or intellectually abhorrent, I hope you
will tell them. You can tell me. I will get a giggle out
of it, but I won't intervene. I won't triangulate, but am
willing to coach you in ways to regain your composure and express
yourself. Understanding these ground rules will allow us to have
more vibrant and meaningful discussions.
A note about response times. I will try to
check my course e-mail account at least every couple of days, but
reserve the right to go on vacation, spend time with my family, or
have a bad hair day. If I haven't responded to you within a few
days, feel free to send a follow up. I encourage you to take
the same liberty and extend the same courtesy to all your
classmates.
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