All syllabi and course materials are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 United States License.
Technical Communication in the Digital Age (CCR 760)
SU, Spring 2010
This special-topics graduate seminar provided an introduction to the field of Technical Communication and a broad survey of contemporary issues, including historical development, content management, information design, usability, social media, distributed authorship, non-organizational technical communication, and relevant intellectual property issues.
Emerging Technologies in Professional & Technical Writing (WRT 427/627)
SU, Spring 2010
This hybrid course drew students majoring in Writing & Rhetoric, Advertising, Communication & Rhetorical Studies, Biology, and English & Textual Studies. Additionally, one PhD student from the Composition & Cultural Rhetorics program participated. The class restructured, revised, and signficantly expanded the Hill Guide wiki begun by a Fall 2009 WRT 307 class. The site was renamed SyrGuide, moved to its own domain, and grew to include a number of areas, festivals, and activities in Greater Syracuse. The site continues to run on MediaWiki. In the process of managing the revisions and build, we employed social media applications such Twitter, del.icio.us, Write Maps, Project Pier, Flickr, YouTube, and GoogleMaps.
Professional Writing (WRT 307)
SU, Fall 2009 (2 sections)
This required course introduces students from a wide variety of majors to common workplace writing conventions. In Fall 2009, two sections worked collaboratively to create online editions of a Newcomer’s Guide to the SU Hill Area and a Guide to Food Justice Resources in Syracuse. Both projects run on MediaWiki and incorporate a variety of other apps, including Flickr and GoogleMaps.
Internship Supervisor: Revisions for 35W Bridge Wiki
UMN, Spring 2009
Supervised a senior Scientific & Technical Communications intern who revised the wiki on “Scientific & Technical Aspects of the 35W Bridge Collapse” originally created by the Spring 08 4662W class. Revisions include close editing, visual and textual style standardization, transition from pbWiki to a MediaWiki installation on university servers, and improved tagging taxonomy and storage for the visual archives.
Emerging Technologies in Scientific & Technical Comm (WRIT 4662W)
UMN, Spring 2008, Spring 2009
This writing-intensive, 4-credit, online course attracted graduate and undergraduate students from Scientific & Technical Communication, Organizational Communication, Biology, Microbiology, Nutrition, Urban Studies, Electrical Engineering, and Political Science. The class worked together to plan and create an extensive wiki on scientific and technical aspects of the 35W bridge collapse. In the process, we explored a variety of technologies that facilitate asynchronous organizational interaction, such as Basecamp, Twitter, Thinkature, and deli.cio.us. Undergraduate interns will continue work on the project in spring 2009.
Internet Tools & Issues (WRIT 3401)
UMN, Spring 2007
This online course introduces students from a variety of majors to digital literacy practices and issues. We covered one issue and application each week, examining our interactions with technology and the Internet from a variety of critical perspectives. Students produced individual work in various formats, including web comics, podcasts, videos, image collages, avatars, blog posts, and wiki entries.
Syllabus (PDF) | Major Assignments (PDF) | Course Blog
Scientific & Technical Presentations (WRIT 3257)
UMN, Fall 2005, Spring/Fall 2006, Spring/Summer 2007
This traditional classroom course offers instruction in public speaking techniques, rhetorical theories, and presentation design to students from a variety of majors. Students complete informative, instructive, persuasive, and argumentative talks. Special attention is given to current presentation styles influenced by Lawrence Lessig, Steve Jobs, and Garr Reynolds, as well as integrating video and audio into slides. Multimedia lectures are frequently included, as is an extensive course website.
Syllabus (PDF) | Major Assignments (PDF)
Technical & Professional Writing (WRIT 3562W)
UMN, Fall 2004, Spring/Summer 2005, Fall 2007, Fall 2008
This 4-credit, writing intensive, required course instructs students in basic organizational writing genres. In recent semesters, the small-group instructions assignment has transitioned from paper-based reports to wikis that include digital images and, occasionally, video or animations. I have had the opportunity to teach the course online, in traditional classrooms, and in computer classrooms.
Syllabus (PDF) |Major Assignments (PDF)
Composition I (UALR RHET 1311)
2003—2004
This course was the pilot development for online first-year writing instruction in the department. It provided a survey of basic writing genres, including correspondance, descriptions, and several forms of expository essays. Additionally, students developed individual blogs and posted weekly reflective entries.
UALR Assistantships
Teaching Assistant to Charles Anderson, Spring/Fall 2003
Introduction to Nonfiction (RHET 3317)
Course Theme: Immersion Writing
Web-based course required for Professional and Technical Writing major
Collaborative course design with Dr. Anderson
Teaching Assistant to Lawrence Coleman, Fall 2002, Spring/Summer 2003
Introduction to Astronomy (ASTR 1301)
Introduction to Astronomy Lab (ASTR 1101)
Web-based core curriculum course
Responsible for editing course content, creating course FAQs, facilitating online discussions, grading student work