The Last Crazy Semester?

Things are heating up as the end of the semester nears.

Have to wrap up projects and write papers for both classes but no finals -- whew! Still have much to do to make sense of collaborative grading from two different perspectives but have made plans for use of this project in the future for publications. Not sure how far away that is and how much I will have to do for further research.

Of course my real job is wrapping up too with grading and planning for Summer Institute as well as final site visits etc.

I'm already thinking about a research project for this summer -- am I crazy for starting another? Should I focus on finishing up collaborative grading? I know how hard it is to juggle multiple projects but this really interests me. Note: Sent in usability revision and still waiting to hear about digital networking chapter.

Anyway I want to look at writing self efficacy and writing workshop (online writing workshop in particular). Likely tools include pre and post surveys, forum archives for workshops, interviews, writing reflections?

This is likely to be the last really crazy semester though. No more two classes at a time. I think this summer I will only need to take document design during the May Seminar and then this summer I can focus on Summer Institute, wrapping up research, and starting preproposal and reading list. In the fall I will have my last class -- and with only one class I should be able to continue work on research, preproposal and reading list. My goal is to take exam over MSU Spring Break. We'll see if I make it!

I have a committee

I have a committee and it is the one I wanted!

I'm so glad after months of agonizing over this decision that everyone I asked said yes and we all feel good about this team. I think it is a good team with the right mix of knowledge, talent, and coaching traits I need to get the job done well.

Chair: Brian Still
Committee: Rebecca Rickly and Fred Kemp

Looking Backward and Forward

Whew! I managed to survive the Fall Semester but it was a rough one. Too many new challenges all at once. The Spring Semester should be no less busy but hopefully I have learned from those terrible fall experiences how to manage the spring.

This semester I'm coordinating my research projects and my classes so they will complement each other rather than conflict (and cause mucho stress). I'm also working on a better balance with my writing project work -- we'll see how that works out.

This semester I am taking Field Methods of Research and Data Mining.

I also started my collaborative grading project at Morehead -- and plan to use that work for Field Methods.

Julie, Tisha and I are working on a joint project, Digital Connections and Learning Styles, that will come to a head this semester but I'm hoping to use that for Data Mining.

Still mulling my choices for my Committee -- might be getting closer to a decision but then I've thought that before!

Current Projects

I have had an incredibly busy Fall.

The Morehead Writing Project has been challenging:
~ Learning about my role and duties
~ Working with MSU, KWP, KDE, NWP to administrate grants
~ Conferences and meetings hither and yon
~ Traveling to schools all over Eastern Kentucky to visit Fellows in their classrooms
~ Planning new programs

My classes have been great although I am still working to smooth out the kinks in my redesigned Writing I and II. Technical Composition this Fall is an improvement on what I taught in the Spring (which was pretty good). Maybe by the third time I teach it the class will be perfect. The students indicate they are pleased.

My TTU classes have also kept me busy. Of course, I'm taking two classes so that is a challenge. So far I'm surviving. We'll see how I feel at the end of the semester.

In Research Methods I have focused my projects on freshman composition at MSU -- conducting a study of the types of writing assignments students are expected to write in Writing I.

In Argumentation I have focused on the intersection (praxis?) of audience and argument in composition.

Just to add a bit of spice to my life, I joined the General Education Writing Committee for my department. We don't have a writing program administrator although the chair of the GEWC could be considered to hold that position. In fact, the committee does much of the work that a WPA would do. We have a number of initiatives underway to address concerns raised with our undergoing program audit and General Education reform.

Plus, I've got two more things in the hopper but I don't want to post them here for fear of jinxing them.

Thinking about Fall projects

I'm taking two classes this Fall: Argument and Introduction to Research Methods in Technical Communication and Composition.

I've been told either I will benefit tremendously from taking these together or my brain will explode. Stay tuned!

The advice I've been given by others successfully completing two classes is to choose a topic that can serve both classes. Clearly project and papers must be written separately, but some research can serve double-duty and time spent thinking and planning can overlap as well.

Right now I'm thinking about continuing my study of the online writing workshop. I would like to frame an argument for it becoming the prevailing method of teaching composition rather than the standard lecture with papers written outside of class model that certainly is the prevailing method at my institution. (Perhaps I'm wrong about that but I'd like to find out). I will have to undertake two microstudies for research methods so I could do a faculty survey looking at how composition is taught now (time spent on lecture, group work, peer review, etc.) and how many instructors either teach online or use it to support instruction. I could also survey syllabi to extrapolate some information. I'm interested in doing some study of my online class archives but that may have to wait.

Surviving the Summer

This summer was incredibly hectic but somehow I survived.

I took a class and taught two classes. That spanned June and July.

I attended MWP's Summer Institute in June.

I attended a NWP conference in July.

I taught my first PD in August.

Somehow I survived, succeeded in my class and the one I taught, and am now looking forward to Fall.

Anyway, that explains why I lagged behind on my posts. It was all I could do to keep my head above water.

I love my subconscious

I actually practiced what I preach today.

I always push my writing students to harness the power of their subconscious (unconscious mind?) for their writing.

Today I wrote out my worries, concerns, and ideas (here) and then went on with my life and other things.

Now I'm starting to see the glimmerings of hope and focus.

I think perhaps a very good place to start would be to work on a literature review on my various areas of interest (starting with discourse and technology and any points of overlap with other topics). That I think may not only help me refine my ability and understanding of this important research tool (the lit review I mean) but also deepen my understanding of the topics and give me a better understanding of the gaps in knowledge so I can do a better job when the time comes to actually create a research project.

I feel better for having a plan and a starting point. That is what was making me so crazy -- having so many ideas and thoughts rambling (or rather pinging around like racquetballs or a game of pong on steroids) in my head.