Generalizing From What We Read
The purpose of this assignment is delve deeply into a specific area, and to organize
what we discover into its important points. Here are the particulars
- Pick a single area from the list of interpersonal relationships that are enabled by technology.
- Research the area. Find as many documents from the web, or from the library, that you
can that pertain to that area.
- Scan through the ones you find, and choose 3 or 4 for careful analysis. Try and choose
a variety of sources. Referreed articles, News reports, Web sites, Blogs, etc.
- Read the ones you have chosen carefully. Take notes. Identify the most important
3-4 ideas from each one. For each important idea, write a sentence that captures
that idea.
- Carefully assess the important ideas from the carefully read papers. Are there any
common ideas? Are there ideas that are contradictory?
- Make a 1 page powerpoint slide that captures only the most important ideas
from the area you have investigated. Use words, pictures, graphics on your slide
to make your point.
- Email your one page powerpoint to Professor Sheard by 11:30 am on Monday
November 24.
- Present your one page powerpoint in class on Monday Nov. 24, 2008. You will get
2-3 minutes maximum to make your point.
The point of this assignment is to practice the skills of organizing our
independant learning activities. It is not enough to just read
a few articles. One must organize what one discovers. To help you do this,
as you read, do the following:
- Look for patterns, things that arise over and over.
- Organize what you learn into its basic parts.
- Try and recognize hidden meanings .
- Identify components of things you alread know.
Here are some keywords you might want to use
as you read: analyze, arrange, assay, audit, check, classify, compare, connect,
disassemble, dissect, divide, explain, include, infer, inspect, order, reason, screen, scrutinize,
section, select, simplify, survey, test, uncover.
The Goal is to synthesize a bigger picture than that covered by any one
document. Learning is all about creating this bigger picture in
your mind, so you can see connections, and opposing ideas in detail.
Back to the Daily Record.
Back to the class web-page.