This fall I’m teaching ENG 121, English Composition I, for the first time at Red Rocks Community College.  (I usually teach ENG 122, English Composition II, and ENG 131, Technical Writing I.)  ENG 121 is a first-semester freshman-composition class in which students have to write at least five essays “that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing.”

The textbook I selected is the eighth edition of Axelrod, Cooper, and Warriner’s Reading Critically Writing Well:  A Reader and Guide (Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008).  The students’ first essay is an autobiographical essay about a significant person or event.

Since most of us can’t write (or even “type”) as fast as we think, it occurred to me that having someone else take notes while the student talked about the event or person.  In class, I divided the students into groups of three or four according to where they were sitting.  (The room is set up with round tables with four chairs each.)  I instructed them to take turns talking about the subjects of their essays while other members of the group took notes and asked questions to elicit details.

Some students hadn’t chosen topics for their essays–despite being instructed to do so for this week.  Some groups just talked about their subjects without writing anything down.  However, I’m pleased to say that one group did follow my directions and told me later that they found the exercise very helpful.

I intend to try this technique again when appropriate–probably with more detailed directions.

Presentation:  “Integrating Social Networking & Web 2.0 Applications into eLearning“

I recently learned that several colleges in Colorado now have an island, Colorado EduIsland, in Second Life:

• Colorado Community College System
• Pikes Peak Community College
• Aims Community College
• Morgan Community College
• Otero Junior College
• Community College of Aurora
• Arapahoe Community College
• Colorado Mountain College
• Red Rocks Community College
• Colorado Community Colleges Online
• Trinidad State Junior College
• Lamar Community College
• Community College of Denver
• Front Range Community College

Yesterday I stook some snapshots on the island, which is still under construction.  The slideshow is here.

Last night I watched The Other Boleyn Girl.  After the recent celebrationof the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s coronation and marriage to Catherine of Aragon (in real life and Second Life), I was interested in seeing something set during his reign.  From what little I know, the costumes and settings seemed pretty accurate.  It’s too bad the plot wasn’t.  The movie adhered to the major historical events of the time, but apparently not to the details.  Among other things, Mary didn’t visit her brother and sister while they were imprisoned.

For more information on Mary Boleyn, visit the following sites:

• BBC > History > “The Other Boleyn Girl“
• EnglishHistory.net > “Mary Boleyn: Biography, Portrait, Primary Sources“
• TudorPlace.com > “Mary Boleyn“
• Suite101.com > “Mary Boleyn: A Short Biography“
• Elizabethan-Era.org > “Mary Boleyn“
• PhillipaGregory.com > “New Research on Mary Boleyn“

“Algebra: Solving Inequalities“

“Solving Linear Inequalities“

“Prealgebra 9.4a – Equations with Two Variables“

“Prealgebra 9.4b – Ordered Pair Solutions to Equations“

Book:

• Schwarz, Arthur L. Vivat Rex!: An Exhibition Commemorating the 500th Anniversary of the Accession of Henry VIII. New York: Grolier Club, 2009.

Websites:

• Historic Royal Palaces
• Royal Collection > Henry VIII
• The Anne Boleyn Files
• The National Archives > Henry VIII
• TudorHistory.org
  • “Henry VIII 500th anniversary events“

Social Media:

• Blog:  The Tudor Tutor
• Blog:  Tudor News
• Blog:  TudorHistory.org
• Blog:  TudorHistory.org Questions and Answers
• Facebook:  Henry VIII 2009 Events
• Twitter:  IamHenryVIII (HRP Press Office)
• Twitter:  TheAnneBoleynFiles
• Twitter:  TheHistoryPress

Videos:

• CNN:  “Henry VIII 500 years ago“
• Reuters:  “Henry VIII’s 500th anniversary“
• YouTube:  “David Starkey — Henry VIII 2009 Exhibition“
• YouTube:  “King Henry VIII – despot or cultural icon? – April 22 09“
• YouTube:  “King Henry VIII — Two Compositions for Recorders 1540“

Online Books:

• College Algebra Book Online (with video lectures)
• Understanding Algebra by James Brennan

Websites:

• algebasics
• Algebra.help
• Algebra Help
• Algebra Help
• Algebra Homework Help
• Free Math Help > Algebra Help
• HippoCampus (Click on “Algebra” link under Subjects.)
• Math.com > Algebra
• OnlineMathLearning.com > Algebra Help
• Purplemath
• S.O.S. Math > Algebra

Videos:

• InterAlgebra12’s Channel on YouTube
• khanacademy’s Algebra Playlist on YouTube
• MathTV’s Channel on YouTube
• videomathtutor’s Algebra Videos Playlist on YouTube
• yaymath’s Channel on YouTube
• yourteachermathhelp’s algebra videos on YouTube

You can find the updated list on my 4R x T Wetpaint wiki.

Saturday, April 25, 3-6 p.m. SLT (PDT)

Globe Theatre, 3:00 p.m.

Sonnet reading
Introductory remarks
Scene from Romeo and Juliet
Discussion with audience

Arena, 4:30 p.m.

Fencing

Rose and Crown, 5:15 p.m.

Storytelling

Sunday, April 26, 12-3 p.m. SLT (PDT)

Manor House Garden, 12:00 noon

Sonnet reading

Arena, 1:00 p.m.

Fencing
Jousting

Globe Theatre, 2:00 p.m.

Scenes from Much Ado about Nothing and  Henry V
Discussion with audience

Both Days

Commons Area

Faire with merchants, games, and dancing

Demonstrations, Tours, and Lectures

Kitchen
School
Globe Theatre
Gardens

I’ve recently run across these articles and presentations on using Twitter for education and business:

• Blog Post:  “Twitter in the Classroom“
• Presentation:  “Learning with Microblogging and Twitter“
• Article:  “Professor Encourages Students to Pass Notes During Class — via Twitter“
• Blog Post:  “Twitter for Churches and Non-Profit Organizations“
• Blog Post:  “How To:  Find a Job on Twitter“
• Blog Post:  “8 Steps For Building Community On Twitter: Tips For Membership Organizations“
• Blog Post:  “How to Show Your Soul and Engage Users with Twitter: (Tips For Brands and Non-Profit Organizations)“
• Blog Post:  “Nine great reasons why teachers should use Twitter“
• Blog Post:  “Twitter for Academia“
• Blog Post:  “Teaching with Twitter“
• Article:  “Twitter As a Learning Tool.  Really.“
• Manual:  “How To Use Twitter for Business:  A Beginner’s Guide“
• Manual:  “Twitter for Real Estate Twits“
• Article:  “Twitter:  How To Get Started Guide for Business People“

I’m hoping that by listing them here I’ll get around to reading them all some time.

Yesterday, laura1621, author of Rhetorically Squeaking, commented, “I love what you are doing with Second Life. I have thought about getting involved in/checking out Second Life, but I’m afraid that I would wind up playing versus doing anything remotely work related. Maybe I can figure out a way, now.”

I put the following list together for her and other educators like her who want to check out Second Life but haven’t done it yet.

Websites:

• Second Life
• Second Life Support Center
• Using Virtual Worlds in Education Programs
• Second Life Wiki
• SimTeach: Information and Community for Educators using M.U.V.E.’s
• Second Life Education Wiki
• Websites about Second Life and Education

Videos:

• “Second Life: What Are Virtual Worlds – Intro to Second Life“
• “Second Life Tutorial: Beginner Guide to Getting Started in Second Life“
• “Second Life – Introduction for Businesses . . .“
• “Second Life: Should It Be Your First Choice? Part 1“
• “Trend Analysis:  Second Life“
• “Educational Uses of Second Life“
• “Introduction to Second Life“

Mailing Lists:

• SL Educators
• Educators Working with Teens (13-17)

Organizations:

• AECT (Association for Educational Communications and Technology) in Second Life
• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) in Second Life
• NMC (New Media Consortium) Campus Observer
• The Sloan Consortium

Books:

• A Beginner’s Guide to Second Life. Las Vegas: v3image, 2007. at Amazon.com
• Carr, Paul, and Graham Pond. The Unofficial Tourists’ Guide to Second Life. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2007. at Amazon.com
• Rymaszewski, Michael, et al. Second Life: The Official Guide. 2nd ed. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2008. at Amazon.com