1. FRANK LONGO & LISA L. JOHNSTON CENTENARY UNIVERSITY
BEYOND THE TEXT
CONVERGING CURRENT EVENTS & DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
FRANK LONGO & LISA L. JOHNSTON CENTENARY UNIVERSITY

3. CONNECTIVIST APPROACH
Practical Learning in a Collaborative, Connected Space

4. Strategic Communications Tools
WHY BLOGS?
“Information architecture shapes the quality of the academic experience.” Peter Morville
Strategic Communications Tools
Dialogue as a learning method
Carry over from one class to another
Accountability and ownership
Interdisciplinary potential
Digital citizenship
Dynamic and timely content

5. WHY CURRENT EVENTS? Dynamic content Mental dexterity
“Learning must be a way of being – an ongoing set of attitudes and actions by individuals and groups that they employ to try to keep abreast of the surprising, novel, messy, obtrusive, recurring events.” P. B. Vaill
Textbook Concepts
Student Experiences
Real World Events
Faculty Guidance
Dynamic content
Mental dexterity
Resistant to teleology

6. Let current events inform but not overwhelm the course.
Be intentional about source selection.
Use the text to keep the course grounded.
Retain and logically extend learning objectives.
Model analysis techniques for students.
Keep repository of articles.

7. Select sources that promote effective habits of mind.
Qualify sources.
Account for publication date.
Identify supporting and conflicting stories from other sources.
Consider context.
Make appropriate inferences.

8. Invite discovery through continuous engagement.
Make material relevant to existing student knowledge.
Move beyond the expected.
Use multimodal content.
Embrace active learning through the microlecture.
Leverage social media.

9. Promote critical thought to further the dialogue.
Set the stage.
Ask the right questions.
Model analytical thinking.
Make effective use of hyperlinks.
Encourage fluid outcomes.

10. IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Learning outcomes
Role in the broader academic program
Purpose
Sequence of content knowledge
Assessment rubrics
Learning strategies

11. IMPLEMENTATION CONSIDERATIONS
Learning outcomes
Role in the broader academic program
Purpose
Sequence of content knowledge
Assessment rubrics
Learning strategies

12. OUR
TAKEAWAYS
Avoid assumptions about student ability. Habitual practice is not equivalent with skill.
Remind students to think about academic work in a way that is not just about grades.
Reimagine the role of the instructor as someone who occupies the same space as the student and does not have a monopoly on insight.

13. Thank You for Joining Us
Welcome!
Thank You for Joining Us
&
We’re Glad You are Here!

14. Session Evaluations Contest
Navigate to specific session page to evaluate
Click orange “Evaluate Session” button on the right
Complete session evaluation*
Each session evaluation completed (limited to one per session) = one contest entry
One (1) $25 gift card will be awarded
*Contact information required for contest entry but will not be shared with the presenters. Winners will be contacted post-conference.

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