How many of us recall learning to write a 5 paragraph essay? How many of us have kept our essays from our academic classes, more specifically, a history class? How many of us have actually used the 5 paragraph essay in our careers?
Or consider this, as a working adult, do find yourself writing in an academic fashion or through social media like Twitter and Facebook? If it weren't for grad school, I'd spend my time writing mostly via email rather than in a scholarship fashion. Also, I love Buzzfeed. I only read text if it comes in short chunks and cool pictures.
You mean,longer is not better???
Well, length isn't much of an issue, more so how the content is
organized and presented.
In "Presenting: Capturing, Creating, and Writing History," the author discusses the advantages of teaching students to use the (relatively) new and popular digital space. Writing and history are still considered intertwined and important strands, but the
style of writing should be re-evaluated. Of course, teachers (and let's be real employers are a huge consideration on how we educate our students), want our students to:
- be precise
- analyze
- communicate effectively
- be innovative and creative
- be able to research
- and THINK
Why yes, I do....
For students to gather and improve these skills critical for the professional field, educators must re-consider how they can
diversify the writing experience. Writing has taken several forms in the last few years. "Web writing" has really exploded and has triumphed popularity over text writing. I mean look at me now, I'm using a Blog to present this information--I've never created a blog before!
Not only is the type of writing important, but what is done after it is done. What will happen after the work is submitted, reviewed and graded? Collect dust or see its inevitable fate in the trash can?
Why not publish the work? Make the work public to receive feedback from others? This way it fosters digital collaboration.
Okay, so now you're in a whirpool, right? How should you teach history keeping in mind our ever-changing society? Well, make the students the historians. Have them make history.
In a Historical Methods course, students had to research the geographic location, size, condition etc. of a tombstone a nearby cemetery. They collected information from the site and from archives in the near town library. They also used online genealogical resources and other primary resources to gather more information. In turn, one student had his/her paper published and another student embarked on an internship due to the experience. No longer should students be scribbling notes during a lecture; student should be out making history, writing history and sharing history. Of course all in interesting formats.
How much are students absorbing from lectures anyway?
Here's a good analogy: When kids learn how to play basketball, they don't read the rules, theories and strategies behind it (well, not usually, I would think). There are out on the courts perfecting his/her left hand dribble or building that gut feeling of pushing through the key to make the lay up. They are learning by doing. Students in a history course should also learn by doing. Colbert has it down.
Politics, history, media, reports---it's changing
.........Not that Colbert exemplifies what we are aiming for......
....all I'm saying is that this blog won't be collecting any dust.
Websites I actually read:
