Hope Wilson

Online Fan Fiction, Global Identities, and Imagination

By Rebecca Black

Learning Can Be Fun

        Increasing literacy with untraditional methods is awesome! Considering the “ Theoretical 

constructs within globalization and literacy studies are used to describe the influence of new media and techniques on modern configurations of imagination, identity, communication and writings,” are encouraging amazing imagination creativity for today students. Especially for the students that speak English as their second language. This new era of students who are up to the challenge, considering they were born into the era of the globalization of media, will prove to inspiring for othere. Some of theoretical constructs can use is lessons such as; “media studies, social sciences, education, and the humanities offers rich theoretical and empirical accounts of contemporary issues related to these trans-border flows of cultural, symbolic, and material objects” are impressive. The lessons learn will prove valuable in “exploration of the role of the information technology revolution in the emergence of new social political structures such as the 'network society” (Castells, 2000) that challenge traditional economy and regional configurations of capitalism and nation-state” increasing productivity to progress into this new era of globalization. 

          Fan fiction inspires the creativity in the user. It is an amazing way to observe someone’s creativity skills. As “fans extend story lines, create new narrative threads, develop romantic relationships between characters, and focus on the lives of underdeveloped characters from various media “ motivating fun as students remain attentive. It is great for all that is involved they “ interact with youths from across the globe as they develop new linguistic and technical skills” increasing their learning momentum. 

             Youth's learning deficiencies must be acknowledged on a personal level " Critical literacy teaching begins by problematizing the culture and knowledge " usually begins with a conversation and ends with a resolution. 

       

           

Developing Students Critical Literacy: 

Exploring Identity Construction in Young Adult Fiction

By Thomas W. Bean and Karen Moni

Children need to be able to identify their problems and escape the feeling of being the only one experiencing difficult times. The” issues that are relevant to teens, including racism, pregnancy, divorce, substance abuse, family con-flicts, and political injustice, young adult novels provide a roadmap of sorts for adolescents coping with these issues in real life,” reading about it may encourage a conversation. The world is constantly evolving “ Dramatic world changes, particularly globalization of markets, challenge long-established ideologies and values related to work and family [Langhorne,2001). In a world of constant movement and flow, media images of advertising and commerce seep into our lives and strongly influence identity development” causing some children to begin a path of negative decision making. 

       Children should be encouraged to read young adult literature and have a discussion afterward. Considering the “issues of reader voice, positioning, inclusion of diverse literature, and an expanded lit- erary canon are all important elements in the mes- sages about reading and responding to literature that students take from their school experiences. For example, struggling readers are sometimes in-troduced to less inspiring readings and response tasks that minimize their voices (Agee, 2000;) their connection to young adult literature is as inspiring as other young adults giving them similar take aways.

Hope Wilson

Grounded Theory

A Critical Research Methodology

by Joyce Magnotto Neff

                                                 

                                                       Researching New Studies 

     Out with the old and in with new. In cessation to research " methods we use to generate our predictions and reach our conclusion" have come under question by Joyce Magnotto Neff. James Berlin once encouraged " shaping meditate by language and situated in concrete historical conditions" (1996, 169). He progressed to encourage " researchers to consider" production-based studies, text-based studies, and culture-as-lived activity studies," studies" situated within the institution...that sponsored the examined actives...,[studies that are] related to the ideological-the arena of language, idea, and value" (170) many years ago.

     Now Grounded Theory is being suggested in composition studies. The perception of studies has become a huge concern. It involves multiple data collection, considering what is critical, and reporting methods to provide accuracy and proof of outcomes. It sounds like methods that scientists may use to maintain data for an experiment. "Glaser and Strauss explained it 30 years ago: Joint collection, coding, and analysis of data is the underlying operation [in grounded theory]. The generation of theory, coupled with the notion of theory as process, requires that three operations be done together as much as possible. They should blur and intertwine continually, from the beginning of an investigation to its end. (1967, 43). " documenting all data collected

      My thoughts once were, research was finding as much information on a subject then collectively forming it in a book or in a form of a research paper.  Progress always encourage and inspire change. Neff concludes " As composition matures as a discipline, this state of meta-analysis seems ideal. It promise to interrogate the distinction between theory and practice that limit our current ways of understanding the complex human activities of writing and teaching writing." encouraging accountability. 

Confronting the Challenges of Participatory Culture:
Media Education for the 21st Century
by Henry Jenkins.

   The Internet is definitely becoming the new form of communicating. Soon there will be no need to encourage your child to look a person in the eye or how to shake one's hand because most transactions will be on line communication. I am inspired to believe that people reaction to the World Wide Web depends on their age and professional development. Culturally speaking I am convinced  "activities become widespread only if the culture also support them, if they fill recurring needs at a particular historical juncture. It matters what tools are available to a culture, but it matters more what that culture chooses to do with those tools." considering their mindset.

     Technology is always evolving and " to encourage youth to develop the skills, knowledge, ethical frameworks, and self confidence needed to be full participants in contemporary culture" is a great way to expose them to new media technology. Encouraging children to venture outside of their community and challenge their social skills is significant to their personal growth. I concur with Henry Jenkins regarding " The new media literacies should be seen as social skills, as ways of interacting within a larger community, and not simply an individualized skill to be used for personal expression." inspiring participatory culture 
     

Hope Wilson
blog3
Writing in High School/Writing in College:
Research Trends and Future Directions
by Joeanne Addison and Sharon James McGee





                                                             Learned Behavior






         Is writing a learned behavior? Does it "warrant a closer look at whether the persistence of tracking is contributing to the degree to which the achievement gap between students of different socioeconomic and racial groups also persist as identified by the NAEP" as some students write the way their environment speaks. Environments are the basics of the results of the way some students write. Although some schools create a great writing plans "many students do not engage in best practice for learning how to write, calling attention to the need to find ways to encourage greater engagement among students for best practice in learning how to write"structurally according to the U.S. Department of Education. Some students manages to concord writing projects with a great grade "According to NSSE, the types of writing assignments that promote "deep learning" across the curriculum include those that focus on analysis, synthesis, and integration of ideas from various sources in ways that lead to engagement with course ideas both inside and outside of the classroom(22). But how much of the actual writing across the curriculum falls into this category? Further, how does the writing assigned prepared students for the writing beyond the academy? In large-scales studies, institutional studies, and our own research, it seems that mush of the writing assigned to the students across the curriculum does intend to promote deep learning, although very little prepares students for writing beyond the academy" resulting in a difficult transition into the workplace.

      Reading scholarly and academic sources may increase literacy and improve students writing ability and articulation. Promoting more engaging and structural behavior may be required " Like expressive assignments exploratory assignments are informal and focus on exploring ideas," encouraging students expressive behavior which may also encourage improvement in their personal growth.


How They Really Talk
Two Students' Perspective on Digital Literacy in the Writing Classroom
by Ann .M. Amicucci


       Reiterating my comments in agreement with" scholars have recognized that any given literacy practice is shaped by its social and historical context (Barton & Hamilton, 1998; Gee, 1990, Street, 2003.) because some students write like their environment. Creative writing may encourage academic writing if place in the a certain context. As an educator I will encourage "practices that will bring digital literacies into writing classroom has emphasized the potential for fostering students' critical literacy skills through the use of digitals tools" encouraging academic perspectives. I was surprised to read that students were encouraged to participate digital literacy assignments. The survey of the ' data analysis revealed several student ideal situation writing course activity within digital context."evolving some academic writing processes. Digital tool will create a more personal relationship between the educator and the student. It will invite the education into the students personal lifestyle as it makes the students aware of the "out-of school" identity.

    Academic writing announces one's identity.Young's (2004) argues perfectly "expectation in the classroom may require students to leave their out-of-school identity behind and adopt solely academic identities in their place" allowing academic growth for an easy transition into employment.

Hope Wilson
Continuation blog2
Out of Our Experience: Useful Theory
By Marian M. Mohr, Courtney Roger, Betsy Sanford,
Mary Ann Nocerino, Marion S. MacLean, and Sheila Clawson


                                                    Scholarly Research


Are we progressing or are we focusing on other research? I am inspired to believe that experience is the best teacher. I agree with the statement " As with most teachers-researchers, our theory building emerged from a complex mix of classroom experiences, collegial exchanges, reflective opportunities, and selected reading" that may inspire teaching ethics. When educators conduct research, journal, and collaborate with their colleagues regarding teaching that is considered part of their experiences. It is impressive how educators were influenced by Lawrence Stenhouse (1985). It was written "ideas led us to think about the effects of teacher research on curriculum and professional development. Our classroom observations effected our classroom curriculum. Our yearly research process was like a graduate course; our understandings based on our research were professional development for each other" which may encourage other educators to experience similar processes or research strategies.  Professional and personal development is inevitable when "research groups of critical friends" join groups and discuss their research and data.

Blog 2

By Hope Wilson

David's Charney

Empiricism Is Not A Four-Letter Word

       

                                                            Scholarly Research

        Should scholarly research be challenged for authenticity?  I agree with the Davida Charney as she shares “Our over-reliance on qualitative studies and repeated disparagement of objective methods is creating a serious imbalance in studies of technical and professional writing- and the same may be true in composition studies as a whole. The numerous socially-situated ethnographies and case studies, excellent though each may be, cannot by themselves sufficiently extended and refine our methods and our knowledge base. It is rare for the same site or even the same kind of site to be studied by multiple scholars “creating questionable studies. Watson and Cricks made a great point when their “announcement of the double -helix, the documentary record surrounding the Challenger disaster, Jack Seizer's collection of analyses of a landmark article by Gould and Lewontin. In each case, scholars have insightfully interpreted the texts and allowed some degree of comparison of methods and theories. But these scholars rarely challenged or extend other's findings." engaging people to present challenging implications.

         As writings and research of all genres evolves the methodology and its implications are changing "the research methods we employ have important consequences for the intellectual authority of our field, for the ethical, political, and intellectual value of our work, and for its potential to effect beneficial changes in the classroom and the workplace " which may change the definitions of research. Sponsors and financial support may encourage and inspire some researcher’s direction as others research regarding their passion.  I agree with Flynn when he claims " beliefs in the objectively of the scientist and the neutrality of scientific investigation serve the interests of those in positions of authority and power, usually white males, and serve to exclude those in marginalized position. 
Identification by women or by feminized fields with the sciences and social sciences, therefore, may necessitate association with discourses that ignore issues of concern to those in marginalized position and that arise out of epistemology antithetical to their needs and interests. (358)" creating some to believe the possibility of a form of injustice.
    Men of power are dictating research topics. Some scientists and researchers are researching according to their funding. Passion does not always dictate researchers topics. Researchers topics suggested by men are being considered more frequently. Feminists have been weighing in claiming " woman are disproportionately represented" exposing injustices.

Hope Wilson
Liminal Spaces and Research Identity
The construction of Introductory Composition Students as Researchers
By James P. Purdy and Joyce R. Walker


                                         Students Accumulative Research

Do we force students to research in ways that will push them out of their comfort zone? I do not agree with the text book that advocates " When students conduct academic research, in other words, the skills and strategies they bring with them to be retooled or abandoned for fear that they will pollute their academic work" I think enhancement of collective knowledge should be encouraged. The students' relationship with their accumulative academics must be factored into how they will embrace new research processes. I agree with " Maurice Kogan (2009:209), In his discussion of the relationship among academics, academic institutions, and larger social settings, offers this description of the forces that shape academic development; ,For development to be strong, it must be firmly rooted in the intellectual self-confidence of the disciplines and subject area to which academics belong. That is the context in which a sense of academic identity flourishes. In a confident academic systems, new knowledge is generated through accepted processes of discovery and testing and through following the logic of the issues being tackle" which maybe discovered by an educator on a case by case basis.

 

Cultivating the students accumulated research skills are essential to correcting their "understanding of the research identities.  Liminality, "coming from the Latin word for "threshold," is what anthropologist Arnold Van Gennep (1960-: 10-11) presents as the transitional step in rites of passage (between separation and incorporation). He asserts that "to cross the threshold," that is, to literally or figuratively pass through a liminal space, " to unite oneself with a "new world" as an educators incorporating additional research processes to enhance students accumulated knowledge may essential to a student's future research identity.

 

I am concerned with " Web sources can indeed be of "questionable legitimacy," Maimon, Peritz, and Yancey assert (2007: 207), but we find particularly troubling in these sources is that students are to leave behind rather than build on what they already know about navigating digital research spaces," which is also vital to their research identity. Academic libraries have secure and valuable research Web sites. If students get into the habit of “Positioning the library as the required starting place for academic work” it may present a more rewarding outcome.

 

Attempting to restructure a college student’s that has been born into the digital world digital research process may be difficult. Incorporating the library Web site into their already research process at some point may be structure enough. The student’s first composition research class in elementary school should be taught to use the library Web site and current research processes which should be reinforced on other research projects. I agree that “This goal can be achieved, however without forcing students to abandon the useful knowledge and skills that form their existing research identities. Students need to be able to make their own investigations into these practices and to understand the complexities and contradictions in ways that academic research practice create knowledge." and processes that are comfortable for them.

                                                     

                                                              "My Research"



By Hope Wilson
1/26


       I am in constant research of my future. I have so many plans that they are beginning to run

together. The one thing that has been consistent is becoming an educator and working in a school

environment. My research for this future plan consist of the grade level that I will feel comfortable

teaching, the school district, and how long I want to teach before considering another position in the

school system. The results of my research are to begin by being a substitute teacher for a couple of

years in various schools within my district. Then network with other substitute teachers, educators,

and school administrators. I love working with children but I also like being around adults.

      I have been researching business opportunities that I plan to engage in after I retire. My

retirement date is not set but I insist on being proactive. One of my researches  for this retirement

plan  is to decide on a profitable location for a daycare center. Where there are a direct driving route

and a demand for my service. I am also in search for a reliable business partner. Someone that can

bring business experience to the table along with jokes, and all bad jokes are acceptable lol. This

partner must have business management experience and a college degree.

      My most important research is to research the town where I want to live. My retirement home has

to be cozy and convenient. I do not want to become  depressed with my decision.  I do not want

to be too close to people or too far away. I want a ranch or a town house right outside of town. I am

researching require taxes, flood zones, crime rates, and park locations. My desire is to live within

thirty minutes of a gym, a mall, and a decent nail and hair salon lol. My plans are to immolate my

pre-retirement life style as close as possible.

       I am researching ways to enjoy my life after retirement. I refuse to become sedentary. I want to

remain active and endure profitable successes. Working in a school environment as I start a business

will keep in motion. Working with family and friends is equivalent to retirement success to me. It will

also give me a reason to remain in touch with my love ones.