English first year computing

discussion notes for Curriculum meetings, Autumn 2000

David S. Miall

A. Internet course sites

Engl 101 courses with current or recent web pages: Maximiliaan van Woudenberg's list

main elements:

other examples:

B. Internet study sites (sampling)

C. Humanities Computing

Concordances:

ETexts:

Hypertext:

Issues

Access to computer facilities

Labs are already overused; cost implications

Perhaps over half of students now have their own facilities, but we cannot disadvantage the rest

What instruction is needed for students to be effective computer users? --

merely using facilities (low cost to Department)
vs.
active creators of materials (high cost in time and training)

Technical training short courses, on the model of Library induction, e.g.:

  • online searching skills, evaluating web sites
  • web authoring, basic hypertext principles
  • use of email, listservs, WebBoard discussions, newsgroups
  • text analysis: obtaining etexts, basic encoding for concordance

NB. Alberta policy on K-12 computing mandates high levels of skill: see report.

Role in learning

Creating a literature- and writing-based curriculum in computing, that goes beyond "how to" and facilitates active inquiry and learning. (Cannot turn to other departments, e.g., Computer Science)

Introducing technology not an add on: means changing teaching and learning styles

Eight dimensions of effective online learning environments, according to Thomas Reeves (Pathways Colloquia, University of Alberta, October 11, 2000):

(slide 37 of Powerpoint display: can be downloaded from this page at ATL)

rethink standard workload of students: introduce portfolios, projects, collaborative work, etc.; avoid isolation at workstation

to Miall home page

Document created October 12, 2000