Guiding questions
Who are you?
Activity 1: Who Are You? What is your life story? Would you need to write a memoir to explain everything, or would you be able to select one event from your life that helped shape you as a person? For your introductory post, you are going to record a memoir of your life, but there is a catch–you can only use six words to do so. Here is a 3-minute video with examples, and a resource site if you’d like to learn more about the 6 word memoir. Once you are ready with yours, record your video on Flip. My memoir is up there already.
AND/OR Record your video on Flip here as you answer the following questions: 1.What is your name? 2. What brings you to BMCC and to this class? 3. What are your hopes for this semester? 4. What challenges to you expect to face this semester? 5. What advice do you have for yourself and for your classmates regarding this semester?
Next, comment on your classmates’ videos, via video or text. Some questions to consider: Do you have something in common? Do you have any additional questions? Let’s chat.
What is Flip, some of you may ask?
“Flip: a safe space for student expression and creativity. Flip is a video discussion app, free from Microsoft, where curious minds connect in safe, small groups to share videos, build community, and learn together.”
Here is a link to access our course. (The link should take you straight to our class on Flip)
Activity 2: Sign up for BMCC OpenLab (see instructions here) if you haven’t done so yet. Once you are a member, either accept my invitation to join this course or request membership to the course (whichever option you see in the course profile).
Activity 3: How to succeed in this course? What do you think? Please review the following documents:
- Welcome video (under “class info” tab here on the OL.)
- Cruelty-free class info (under “class info” tab here on the OL)
- course syllabus (under “class info” tab here on the OL)
- course guide (under “class info” tab here on the OL)
- the announcements page here on the OpenLab (under “announcements” tab)
- watch this 2-minute video: Student Success- Time Management
- watch this 2-minute video: How to Write a Professional Email For Students by Students.
- view course site on Blackboard (we will only use it for the grade book, quizzes, assignment submissions, and a few selected course materials).
Activity 4: Answer 1 question about this class on our Write/ Q&A. Check out other ways to contribute here.
Activity 5: What is literacy? What does the term mean to you? Research the word “literacy.” Take notes and contribute to our class glossary or check out what others have posted.
Activity 6: Here is a TEDxTalk by John Trischitti titled “Literacy is the Answer.” Watch the video and take notes.
Activity 7: Review our Conversation Time instructions for posts as you prepare to contribute your first reply and replies to classmates.
Activity 8: Conversation Time
Conversation 1
Your enormous post (minimum 200 words):
1. What is literacy?
2. Based on your work in this unit, what is your definition of literacy? What did you find when you researched the term?
3. How does John Trischitti define literacy? Why, according to Trischitti, is it important? Do you agree? Why or why not?
Replies to classmates (75+ words per reply)- Some ideas for replies: Do you agree with your classmates? Why or why not? Do you have any questions? Can you relate to something they’ve said?
Activity 9/ Optional & suggested: Complete the E-learning orientation on Blackboard. While our course site is on the OpenLab, you will still need to navigate Blackboard to access your grade book and some course assignments, including quizzes and essays. Post your certificate/ screenshot of your certificate on Blackboard, under E-learning orientation, to receive +25 points on Conversation 1.
