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Subject:Re: Computer syllabus From:Brenda Gordon <Z3BCG -at- TTACS1 -dot- TTU -dot- EDU> Date:Wed, 25 Aug 1993 10:19:09 -0600
Mary,
I switched my technical writing classes to a computer-based
classroom a year ago and have been quite pleased with the
results. The students are very enthusiastic about the
change. In fact, I frequently have to run them out of the
classroom so the next class can come in.
Three other doctoral students are beginning to teach
technical writing in the computer-based classroom next week.
We are teaching 5 sections in the Mac lab and 4 in the PC
lab. We will all use the Daedalus System that Dickie Selfe
mentioned in his message. This system includes software for
an E-mail system, which we use for asynchronous critiquing
of papers, and it includes an excellent electronic conferencing software that
allows synchronous conferencing and critiquing. Daedalus
also includes a very basic wordprocessing software, but it
is really too limited for teaching document design.
Therefore, I always teach my students WordPerfect, and if
time allows, Microsoft Word, which is the word processing
software taught in the MAC lab.
If you are interested in seeing any of the syllabi for these
sections, send me your postal address and I'll forward
copies for the different labs. I think the other teachers
are using the Lanham text, and I use Paul Anderson's text.
I am finishing a paper right now on how the role of the
writing technical writing teacher changes in the
computer-based classroom. You might find it of interest as
well.
If you're interested in learning more about the Daedalus
System, let me know. One of its owners and creators, Fred
Kemp, is the director of our composition program here at
Tech.
Brenda Gordon
Texas Tech University
z3bcg -at- ttacs1 -dot- ttu -dot- edu