https://docs.google.com/document/d/13nUCyQoI5mpcWXyq5AGvKT657RR4h140F4wFAc6XdGg/edit
Alright so as far as audience is concerned I'm wanting to perhaps address those teachers/professors that are hesitant to make the shift to utilizing digital media in the class room. I feel that traditional teaching methods and methods that involve digital media are seen as being polar opposites with no mediating middle ground. I think it is this large gap that prevents teachers from utilizing digital media. I also think that many professors/teachers feel their students are more proficient in their technological abilities so bringing digital mediums into the class room would force many instructors to surrender some control for the benefit of their students.
I want to reshape my ideas a bit to think about how to convince teachers of the importance of utilizing new mediums. By discussing a renewed idea of the universal Shakespeare as something that is globally discussed and easily accessible it almost becomes irresponsible of teachers to shun these new methods. Trying to chip away at the Complete Works of Shakespeare is like trying to read the dictionary - it is too dense for modern audiences. By thinking of Shakespeare's work like a brick of gold (the analogy is credit to John Donne in many ways) we see that in the brick form it has potential value but by breaking it into coins it becomes an exchangeable currency, Shakespeare's work functions the same way, as a currency. In that it is current and exchangeable and that it is useful. Even when the currency is exchanged (aka translated) the root still exists and the exchanged currency is tied to that root. Teachers who refuse to use this type of currency (which largely consists of the more digest-able digital media of our day) are negligent in their teaching and are not pushing their student to their full potential. Utilizing digital media takes a strength that students of this generation seem to have inherently and allows them to work from that strength rather than being forced to fit a traditional, generic mold.
Something that I think would be useful is to run with this idea of a redefined universality and create a sort of program for teachers who want to utilize this medium but don't know how, it could help them ease into it and provide convincing evidence that it is what their students need, just a thought.
Alright so as far as audience is concerned I'm wanting to perhaps address those teachers/professors that are hesitant to make the shift to utilizing digital media in the class room. I feel that traditional teaching methods and methods that involve digital media are seen as being polar opposites with no mediating middle ground. I think it is this large gap that prevents teachers from utilizing digital media. I also think that many professors/teachers feel their students are more proficient in their technological abilities so bringing digital mediums into the class room would force many instructors to surrender some control for the benefit of their students.
I want to reshape my ideas a bit to think about how to convince teachers of the importance of utilizing new mediums. By discussing a renewed idea of the universal Shakespeare as something that is globally discussed and easily accessible it almost becomes irresponsible of teachers to shun these new methods. Trying to chip away at the Complete Works of Shakespeare is like trying to read the dictionary - it is too dense for modern audiences. By thinking of Shakespeare's work like a brick of gold (the analogy is credit to John Donne in many ways) we see that in the brick form it has potential value but by breaking it into coins it becomes an exchangeable currency, Shakespeare's work functions the same way, as a currency. In that it is current and exchangeable and that it is useful. Even when the currency is exchanged (aka translated) the root still exists and the exchanged currency is tied to that root. Teachers who refuse to use this type of currency (which largely consists of the more digest-able digital media of our day) are negligent in their teaching and are not pushing their student to their full potential. Utilizing digital media takes a strength that students of this generation seem to have inherently and allows them to work from that strength rather than being forced to fit a traditional, generic mold.
Something that I think would be useful is to run with this idea of a redefined universality and create a sort of program for teachers who want to utilize this medium but don't know how, it could help them ease into it and provide convincing evidence that it is what their students need, just a thought.
I enjoyed actually reading the final draft of your paper this time!
ReplyDeleteI find it hard for me to make connections between my own paper and others' papers in this class. The only common theme I can see is the idea of adaptability. I think this idea is important because as the world becomes more technologically- and digitally-oriented, the ways people can adapt to certain situations become easier and more numerous.
I like your idea that Shakespeare's works may not be universal in the traditional sense, but they are in the sense that any person is able to adapt the stories to their own culture.
This broader idea of the "brave new world" that we were talking about in class fits nicely with your paper because today, like never before, people all around the world have access to Shakespeare. And what's more, we have access to their different interpretations of the stories, giving us a broader perspective and new ideas. All of this is possible because of the technology in the digital age.
Like I said, I enjoyed reading your paper and I think that there is a lot more you can do with it! Good luck on this next step.