Handwriting as technology

If I'm lucky enough to teach this class again, maybe I should start further back. Say, with handwriting? Here's a review of a book that deals with the issue.

Scary...

So if you aren't paranoid yet, here's a video that will make you paranoid. (Also, mind the background noise, camera angles, and editing of the "news" piece as you watch it.)

How Assignments Should Be (?)

So I saw this article about Kurt Vonnegut's creative writing class and thought of you all. Since we've read some Vonnegut and some of you have professed love for his artwork, I figured I should post it. Is this how all writing assignments should be? Does he have enough constraints? Too many? Perhaps we'll talk about it on Tuesday...

Some notes on how to conduct your showcase

As you all prepare to showcase your works-in-progress, I ask you to keep a few things in mind:

• You'll have 12-15 minutes- Use your time wisely! Think of how we would do analyses in class. Preface the pertinent parts of what you're going to show us, then show us what you have. Tell us about your process and how your written portion is going. (If you are doing a project by yourself 8-10 minutes will suffice.)
• Solicit for feedback- I am expecting your projects to be INcomplete at the time of the showcase. I am also expecting you to have some pointed questions for your peers to help gather some helpful feedback. 
• Make sure everyone in the group has a part- I know some of you don't like to speak in front of the class--that's fine. Just make sure that if you are not talking in front of the class, we still know what everyone did to contribute toward the final project. 
• Make sure your media works- Please make sure your DVD, flashdrive, file etc. works before the presentation. It helps to save your files in more than one format. 
• Don't self deprecate- You (hopefully) worked hard on your projects. You invested your time, thoughts and emotions. Don't cheapen the experience by prefacing your showcase by saying what you did is not any good. It is good. You're smart. And we're interested. 

I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to our showcases! Don't forget to sign up for your day on Google Docs.