Planning #EDU106 with my students

As part of my redesign of #edu106 I started by surveying the students. I want to design the class around their desire and needs. I first started asking about the technology they use.

Instagram is still the most popular. Nobody used facebook anymore. Students have Twitter accounts but say they are more for reading, following celebrities or asking about customer service.

I wouldn't count Snap out. Seeing a bit of a resurgence. Students commented that they use Instagram for public and snap for the close friends. For the first time I heard values driving choices. Some commented they went back to Snap because facebook owns Instagram and the brand is just so toxic among college age students.

I will never make students join a social network. We will utilize Twitter, but students will analyze a hashtag as a learning space. No one should ever have to give up data to a third party to take a class.

I am not an Instagram user. I know nothing of the culture. Kim Jaxon has a cool selfie unit. Gonna take that and do some critical readings on Instagram.

Students then marked how comfortable they are with technology on a scale of Eeyor to Pepper, the bad ass single mom who helped defeat Thanos. Said 1-10. Of course everyone picked the squishy middle. This is why I like 4 ratings for likert scale no squishy middle.

We learned kurtosis and skewness. Ohh did I mention I am gonna add a basic data scientist track this semester.

I then had people vote on what topics they will learn. As an LEP Tech class I have specific outcomes I must teach but I want student input.

Overwhelmingly getting an A is the only real concern of students. We discussed, "What did school do to them when given the chance to design a class they only care about a grade."

The collective response was a cutting stare and a response of, "Everything."

I decided we would focus on web literacy (even though it got no votes, the focus on building your digital identities is reason I teach this class).

I am also gonna do photos, podcasting (audio or music), video, and data science. Everyone will get a taste of each but they will then specialize in a topic.

If they do web literacy they will get a domain and hosting or learn CSS Grid and keep building out their site (if they do not want to spend money).

For video I am going to do the 30 day educator trial. If they specialize students will have to pay for weVideo, use the labs on campus with Premier, or video software.

For photo editing not sure what I will do. Will start with fun online tools. I used to use pixlr editor, but it was flash based.

I am not trying to walk 30 students installing GIMP on different operating system. That is out. The way we do Creative Cloud now...too expensive for students.

Data science I need to think on for specialization. Thinking maybe data visualization and more in depth survey making.

In terms of the platform I am gonna back to a multi user Known install rather than free WordPress.com accounts. Last time I used WordPress a students blog about overcoming eating disorders kept triggering fat shaming ads from a thir party vendor.

I can't have that. So everyone will build a site using Glitch and then link to a Known profile. Then webmentions will just work.

#teaching #instructionaldesign