Ten Cents a Page

Brewster Kahle Building a Free Digital Library:


Lots of interesting stuff to think about here regarding "universal access" to books globally.



And here is Carl Sagan talking about the library at Alexandria....

Self-Reflection on the Blogging Assignment

As we have reached the end of this project, I would like to reflect upon the goals for the blogging assignment and how I felt I have met them.  As stated in the course syllabus, the goals for this assignment were as follows:

1. Develop my own digital literacy expertise
   

Although I have created websites using the Macintosh iWeb application, this was my first time using blogger.com.  I had previously started a blog using iWeb, but did not get beyond the set-up stage (I think I posted for about a week before losing interest).  I do feel I have increased my digital literacy through this project and feel comfortable using blogger to create blogs in the future, especially for courses I may teach.

1. Create an online record of my course writing and of links to reports, blogs, websites, journals, and books that I deem valuable for my continued study of language and literacy

I have created an online archive of my written course assignments.  I have linked to a couple of the texts we used in class, including two that related directly to online literacy, (i.e., Shimmering Literacies & Web 2.0).  I have linked to professional organizations related to literacy and I like that I have all those links collected in one place.  In general, had I posted on a more regular basis I feel my blog would be much richer.

1. Demonstrate for course credit that I have developed the ability to create and develop a blog on blogger.com

I have done this.

1. Have easy and quick access to all of my course writing for ENGL B6400: Theories & Models of Literacy

I have done this.

1. Program Assessment: course blogs will be included in program assessment for the MA in Language & Literacy program (CCNY professors & administrators will/might have access to my blog)

My blog is available to be used for assessment. 

1. Create an "individualized portrait of (my) own learning" in this course

I have done this, however (as stated) had I posted more regularly my blog would be richer.  At the outset I had the goal of posting my reflections following each class discussion, as well as posting links to all of the student-created discussion flyers for the topics.  However, due to time constraints I did not follow through on that goal.

Shimmering Literacies Discussion

Read about Project Gone Postal on Exquisite Corpse: A Journal of Letters and Life.

In response to our in-class discussion of Shimmering Literacies: Popular Culture and Reading, by Bronwyn T. Williams, I routed the above link via email to my classmates.  I thought it was a worthwhile read– an interesting project with quite a bit of anecdotal information regarding the quality of communication via social network sites.  And, yes, I am a "fan" of Gone Postal on Facebook.  Become a "fan" of Gone Postal on Facebook.

Favorite Pics from Our Class

Reabeka King, of Kingsborough Community College who spoke at our last class session.  She was informative and inspiring.  She is a graduate of our program.

Our last class session.  Ummm, where was I?

(This must have been taken after I headed home for the night.)

At Columbia University where we viewed rare books.

It was a great evening (except for the fire alarm evacuation!)

Archive of Completed Course Assignments

Click here: Course Assignments to view my completed course assignments.