COMM 2901 – Online Publications – Wittum
Instructor:
Cyndi Allison - See BB for contact data.
Meeting Times and Room:
Online
May
29 – July 24 (2014 – summer)
Textbook and Study Materials:
-
Fellow peer blogs
(list to be posted when all are set up – keep track as you go along).
Julie & Julia
(film). This is the only item that will need to be purchased for class. You can
also do a download or rent.
-
Course Rationale:
Online Publishing is offered
as an elective in Communication Arts. In a rapidly changing world where
communication is critical, the class offers insight into changes in the
presentation of news, information, and data as well as the impact of new
technology on individuals and society.
Learning Outcomes:
Students completing Online
Publication will:
1. Be able to articulate (verbally, on a quiz
and/or in writing) the history of online content.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the changes
over time in presenting information online and the current standards and
emerging trends in online publication.
3. Reflect a basic understanding of the
underlying technology and the ability to use simple tools for publishing
online.
4. Grasp the safety and moral issues involved
with publishing online and reflect sound judgment in selecting, packaging, and
presenting data and ideas online.
5. Demonstrate an awareness of the power of the medium
on society and the implications of publishing in a global forum now and looking
toward the future.
Methods of Instruction:
1. Online readings, research, and discussions as
well as practical applications.
2. Hands on learning in publishing online including
(but not limited to) posting written materials and/or visuals in various forums
including personal student blogs.
3. Instructor, peer, and
self-evaluations with personal action plans developed by students with faculty
input, feedback, or assistance as needed.
Assignments:
1. Develop a blog concept and implement the idea
including 25 blog posts (one free post for break if needed/wanted) and 1 guest
post (guest post does not count in your 25 total). You’ll need 3 to 4 posts per
week plus the guest post during the second half of the class. Do not post more
than four per week (excluding the guest post), because a blog does better when
written across time on a regular basis.
2. Use social networking tools (FB, Twitter
ect.) on the blog as well as network to coordinate a guest post exchange. This
will also include a widget which may or may not be geared toward social media.
3. Provide appropriate and insightful online
feedback on work produced by peers (twice per week with a log including URL of
each peer post). Be sure to keep a log with the name of the blog and the URL as
you go; it’s easy to forgot where you went and what you did if you wait until
the end of the class.
4. Six weekly tests (covering materials assigned
during that week). You will not have a test every week. See the schedule for
weeks with tests. These are short tests and will run from Saturday through
Monday of the assigned week.
5. Watch Julie & Julia film and write a
2-page research paper (500 words).
6. Mid personal blog review
with instructor feedback as needed. Students are always invited to ask for
extra assistance at any time during the term.
6. Final blog project review
and self-evaluation.
Grading:
Syllabus and First Week Test Required but no
grade (unlimited attempts)
Post blog idea and rationale
(with feedback) 5 points
Peer feedback on class blogs
(2 per week) 20 points
Short Tests – Five tests x 20
points each 100 points
Final exam 25
points
Two discussions (based on
current events) 20 points
Widget (may be social type
media) 10 points
Research Paper (Julie &
Julia) 25 points
Mid self eval on blog and
feedback 10 points
Guest Post (2nd
half of semester) 10
points
Final Blog 50
points
Final Self-Evaluation and
Overview of Project 15 points
Class Participation 10
points
Total Points = 300
The class is on a 10 point
scale once class points are divided by 3. If you earned 230 class points, you
divide the total points by 3 = 76. That’s a C. There is a plus/minus system.
Taking the B range on a 10 point scale, 80 to 82 would be B-, 83 to 86 would be
a B, and 87 to 89 would be B+.
Summer Schedule
Online Publication - COMM 2901 – Summer 2013
Week 1 (short week)
Topics Covered
Read Syllabus
Overview of
Online Publication Class and Types of Online Writing
History of
Blogging
Types of Blogs
(and how to develop a targeted, marketable blog)
Starting a Blog
Assignments
Complete Weekly
Readings (posted on BB)
Syllabus Quiz and
First Week Readings (required before completing other class work)
Post idea and URL
name for personal blog under Discusssions (which will be viewable online). Do
wait for feedback before proceeding. Classmates are invited to offer input,
ideas, etc.
Week 2
Topics Covered
Assignments
Create/Design
Blog (Be sure to look at all the various options. There are a lot.)
Put up first blog
post by noon on Thursday June 5 (25 post total count with one free day = 24
required – spread out throughout the term with no more than four posts per week)
List Blog URL under
BB to be Included in Class List on Class Blog (for easy access). I’ll link
that, so it will be easy to find class blogs.
Start Peer
Comment Log List (fifteen comments on peer blogs required and on different days
across the month). Don’t wait until the end, or you will forget where you
posted.
Weekly Test 1 -
20 points (available from 1 pm on Saturday
through noon on Monday – ALL tests except the exam are on this schedule
giving you both weekend and a week day to work)
Week 3
Topics Covered
Complete Weekly
Readings (posted on BB and probably on class blog)
Widgets – what they
are and how to add one
Monetization (just
a note - don’t apply for this option yet)
Famous Bloggers
Julie and Julia
(watch the film) – This is not due yet, but begin to plan for getting a copy of
the film and the research.
Assignments
Continue to blog
on schedule.
Continue to make
comments.
Add at least one
widget that compliments your blog
Get ready for Julie
and Julia (watch the film)
Do outside
research on Julie/Julia and write a two page paper due June 30 (500 words minimum = 2 double spaced pages). Be sure to use
in text links for web sources used (or include a MLA citation list at the
bottom of the post). Papers should be posted to BB under Assignments (to
maintain the links).
Weekly Test 2 -
20 points
Week 4
Topics Covered
Complete Weekly
Readings (posted on BB)
The value of
linking (both in and out)
Adding “pages”
(these help with organization and make your blog look like a web page)
Prepare for BB
discussion.
Assignments
Complete
readings.
Add at least one
external link.
Add pages (four
minimum).
Take part in
class Discussion (50 words minimum – may be split in more than one post)
Weekly Test 3 –
20 points
Julie & Julia
paper due under Assignments by Monday June 30. This is just an advance
reminder.
Week 5
Topics Covered
Assignments
Complete
readings.
Continue to keep
blog posts going.
Continue to comment
on peer blogs.
Guest Post (time
is flexible but be sure to be scouting out a guest blogger – post due before
the end of class)
Week 6
Readings
Assignments
Week 7
Readings
Assignments
Week 8
Readings
Assignments
Week 9 (final week)
Readings
Assignments
Using what you’ve learned
over the semester, go back and make any corrections, additions, and deletions
to your blog before final grades are assigned.
Post under Assignments your
own self-ev aluation of your blogging work.
Assignments
Exam
Blog – 50 points
(includes all requirements such as visuals, widgets, guest post etc. as well as
progress over the semester).
Final Self-Evaluation
– 15 points (includes an overview of the blog from start to finish with what
was learned and what worked well as things that did not work as well – 500
words minimum).
* Class Participation (10
points) – This includes the various assignments that are not specifically
graded.
