Multigenre Classrooms: Making the Most of the Available

Technology

with Martha Bugher

Objectives:

• Rationale

• Clarification

• Integration

• Discussion

• Questions

Rationale:

• Transitions

• Politics

• Thesis

• Student body

• Critical thinking

• English—video or blog

• Other course examples

Clarification

Tradition—standard form

• English—research paper

• Other course examples

Multigenre—many forms

• English—letter and article

• Other course examples

Technology—newer form

Integration

Why would we integrate?

• Critical thinking• Marketability• Assessment• Student feedback

– Haley– Jeff– Chris– Dennis

How would we integrate?

• Plan• Back-up plan

Examples of integrating tradition and technology:

• Discussion boards• Journals• Blogs or vlogs• Groups• Letters• Articles• Video

• Brochure or flyer• Presentation• Art• Create the problem• Proposal• Models• Advertisement

One specific example:What do you think is going on in this photo? What leads you to think that way? What time period is this? What leads you to believe it takes place in that time period? What inferences can you make based on the photo? What clues lead you to those inferences? Why was the photo taken? How do you think the photo was used? What rhetorical strategies are used in this photo? Why are those strategies used? Create a journal entry that describes your impressions based on the photo. Use details from the photo to support your reasoning. Be sure to use your best writing.

Student responses:My first impression of the photo would be that the women in the picture are from an all-girls school in the process of doing an experiment for class with their teacher and dean looking on. The girls are holding objects that resemble a parachute type project and are located high up on a mountain with a huge drop off behind them. My belief is that they will be performing a parachute experiment. The girls look like they are from the 1940,s era because of their hair styles and clothing are presumably from that time period. While viewing this picture, I had to analyze their clothing, the people present, where they were at, what they were holding in their hands, and who they were taking directions from. In order to come to this conclusion I had to analyze and try to organize my thoughts before I could give an educated guess about the photo.

I think the photo is taken during World War two as some kind of advertisement maybe. The way people are dressed makes me think that. The man throws the whole thing off he looks like he is checking out the women and wondering which one he will hook up with. The photo may have been used on a flier to get people to join the Military. They were using the women as a way to persuade the men to join the Military. In the front of the picture you see a man sitting in a chair which leaves me to believe it might be taken in WWII. During WWII when the troops were not in battle what else could they do? I am not sure what they are holding and why but it looks like some type of bowl could be an ash tray.

Another example:

Review the following blog: http://7jarsofpeanutbutter.blogspot.com/2012/07/birth-life-death.html?spref=fb. How would you tell your life story? Which part of your life has made you who you are today? How does the cycle of birth, life and death impact you? What motivates you?Use the prompt above to create a blog about what made you who you are today. Using vivid description, describe what motivates you to keep going each day. Formulate a thoughtful response to 2-3 other blogs as well. This blog is due by midnight on Sunday, September 9.

Student response: A life story can only be written after death. And it could only be written by the individual that lived that life. Could a truly accurate life story ever exist through the eyes and pen of another? I do not have a life story to tell you. Because my life has not been completed. I can only offer pieces up to this moment. Pieces that have sculpted and equally scarred me into the 35 year old I am today. I will take a few steps beyond the violence and alcoholism that plagued my family in my early elementary school days. And past the few years I had as a normal carefree child. I was diagnosed with End Stage Renal Disease (kidney failure) at the age of twelve. The inevitable fork in the road we all must face sooner or later. A situation that crippled my youth and continues to burdon me to this day. In less then six months, I was diagnosed with kidney failure, received a kidney transplant and had the kidney reject. The kidney swelled so large that it pinched nerves in my spine that caused violent, exorcist style seizures. (Watch the movie, The Exorcist, to understand what I mean.) Through the years I have had more then fifteen surgeries. Including a total of three kidney transplants. My abdomen resembles a map of the Tokyo transit system. Due to how many times a surgical knife had sliced it open. It is considered very fortunate for someone to receive one kidney transplant. Three is simply miraculous. The average middle school child worries about school and homework. Which girl or boy they may have a crush on at the moment. Or the zits on their forehead that formed the Aquarius constellation. I had these concerns too. I also had to evaluate life's worth. Being young and beginning to question the value of life pushes you to grow mentally faster than your peers. I was forced to find out where my place was in life. Why should I continue to struggle. And whose suffering would be more severe; Mine, if I decided to live with this illness the rest of my life. Or my family and friends if I decided to give up. Thankfully, I had so many amazing friends that would not give me time to feel sorry for myself. And through the years they truly made it all worth it. I am a husband, father and a grandfather now. (The grandfather story would require an explanation that dables in my wife's age compared to my own. And I am not allowed to release that information.) I feel my life no longer belongs to me. It belongs to them. My motivation, inspiration and stress all tight knitted into a single ball. This is what motivates and makes me who I am today. And I honestly believe I would not be at this point in my life if it were not for the choices I was forced to make as a child. As well as those friends that would simply wait by my side. Never abandoning me. And as often as I play Ding Dong Ditch with the grim reaper, I still feel I have years upon years of life stories to accumulate.

What about other courses?

Math? Biology? Education? Manufacturing? Chemistry? Computer systems? Engineering? Spanish? Health services? Student success? Anatomy? History? Communications? HVAC? Psychology? Sociology? Visual communication? Industrial technology? Design? Nursing? Medical? Paralegal? Political science? Accounting? Welding? Business? Construction? Automotive? Criminal Justice? Human services? Agriculture? Public Safety?

Discussion Questions?