1. Laptop Computers and Writing Instruction What am I going to do with this technology?

2. Laptop Computers and Writing Instruction n The Move to Technology n The Virtual Writing Lab n First-Year Composition n Technical Communication

3. The Move to Technology Running, Kicking, and Screaming

4. Move to Technology n The Rose-Hulman Experience n Absence of computer writing lab n Value placed on technical adaptability n First-year composition course and curriculum n Laptop “culture”

5. Move to Technology n Administration and technical faculty n Opportunity to revise and re-evaluate the First-year Composition course

6. Benefits to the Student n Improving writing and critical thinking skills? n Quantitative data n Associated Board of Engineering and Technical Schools n Assessment plan data collection ongoing n Communication skills objective

7. The Virtual Writing Lab Online Anytime

8. Software Adoption n Receive assignments n Participate in on- line discussions n Submit essays n Peer edit n Retrieve graded work

9. Rationale for Computer- Assisted Composition n Ellen Barton, “Interpreting the Discourses of Technology” n Dominant discourse: Myron Tuman n Anti-dominant discourse: Cynthia Selfe and Richard Selfe

10. Rationale for Computer- Assisted Composition n Instructor and students illuminating the potential and problems of technology even as they employ it in the classroom n Laptop computer as the ever-present marker of technology’s potential and problems

11. First-Year Composition and the Critique of Technology Making the Connection

12. First-Year Composition: Issues in Science and Technology n basic issues raised by scientific knowledge and by science-based technology n assigned reading: non-fiction essays, science fiction novels, films, plays, and short stories n authors who are interested in impact of science and technology on our daily lives

13. Assignments 11 and 12 n Matthew Arnold, “Literature and Science” n Thomas Huxley, “Science and Culture” n Journal writing on each reading

14. Assignment 13: Internet Search n Determine how many courses in the humanities and social sciences are required for engineering major n Provide Works Cited entry for this Web site n List the humanities and social science credits/courses that the school requires of your engineering major

15. Assignment 16: Persuasive Essay 105 years have passed since Thomas Henry Huxley argued that "literary instruction and education" have no "direct value" for the "student of physical science." Argue either for or against the veracity of Huxley's claim for students at Rose-Hulman.

16. Assignment 16: Persuasive Essay If you decide to argue for Huxley's position, your audience for the essay is the professors of the HSS department. If you decide to argue against Huxley's position, your audience is the professors of the mechanical engineering department.

17. Course Evaluations n Relevance to engineering curriculumn n Improved writing skills n Enjoyable and interesting

18. Technical Communication Technology and Workplace Communication

19. Writing Lab and Writing Workplace n NTC inadequate for larger documents: graphics n Campus network and company intranet n Reviewing capabilities n In-class presentation n Technical writing portfolio

20. Reviewing tools n Student document: DVD technology Student document: DVD technology Student document: DVD technology n Word 97 n Student peer editing

21. In-class demonstration n Look@Me, Farallon/Timbuktu Look@Me, Farallon/Timbuktu Look@Me, Farallon/Timbuktu n Peer editing discussion n On-screen revision

22. Technical Writing Portfolio n Student Portfolio Student Portfolio Student Portfolio n Resume n Technical Communication Documents n Audience Analysis n Designing for the WWW

23. Laptop Computers and Writing Instruction n The Move to Technology n The Virtual Writing Lab n First-Year Composition n Technical Communication