Collaborative+Critical+Inquiries

Collaborative Critical Inquiries (CCIs) include pre, during, and post activities. Pre- includes previewing the issue prompt, reading the articles/chapters/multimedia, preparing a reflective blog post/VoiceThread commentary inspired by the prompt, and reading the responses of others and taking notes on what you learn from their thinking. During- includes participating fully in the real-time seminar in Second Life. Post includes reflecting and self-assessing your progress toward the learning goals in your Reflective Assessment Portolfio (RAP). Read more about Collaborative Critical Inquiries as a pedagogical pattern.

For the “Peril and Promise of YAL” and the “Intellectual Freedom” Forums, you will individually read the assigned readings and post your response to your blog. For one of the CCIs (sequential art) you will read and “club” (collaborate with your book club) representative books as well as post your responses to your blog. Clubbing includes three stages:

Pre- reading a group-selected YA book and preparing for the discussion by constructing thoughtful questions. Groups can be formed via Twitter or in class. During -- meeting in Second Life for the real-time discussion; create an engaging way to share the book with the class (multimedia, real-time experiential, lots of options). Post – share these responsibilities: share the book with the class in an innovative fashion; reflect and self-assess on your personal and group success in your Reflective Assessment Process (RAP).

** Specific Objectives: ** 1.7 Apply learning theories to instructional design including social constructivism, multiple intelligences, Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy, creativity and engagement. 1.8 Apply reader response theory to instructional design 1.9 Apply critical literacy to instructional design and current issues in YAL 1.10 Explain the critical literacy and social justice connection and how literature can serve as a bridge 1.11 Design learning experiences that operationalize the teaching of creativity 1.12 Use technology and media to engage students and help them develop new literacies and communication skills.

Directions Checklist:

 * 1) Consider the big question suggested and study the resources provided to prepare a creative contribution in the form of a blog post that may include audio or video or graphics to express your opinion. Shelley Wright's thoughtful argument for "Blogging Is the New Persuasive Essay" may be helpful. See the Critical Reflection Toolkit for tools that may help you explore creative ways to express yourself in your blog. Reflect on that part of the big question that may have particular resonance for you and "throw your weight." The rhythm is usually that this part is completed by Tuesday, 11:59 pm, of each session. Do strive to come up with a compelling or at least engaging title for your post.
 * 2) Then peruse the other posts to find at least two that you can begin to weave/synthesize so that our blogging becomes a "tapestry" of interconnected ideas. When you see similarities or differences in your post and those of others, then bring those to our attention and begin a conversation with those bloggers. Plan to have these two comments made by Wednesday, 11:59 pm.
 * 3) By the time of the live, virtual seminar on Thursday, review the responses of classmates to prepare for the real-time discussion.
 * 4) Meet in Second Life to hold the real-time discussion on that Monday. Strive to contribute at least three substantive comments/questions.
 * 5) Post-seminar, reflect and self-assess on your progress toward mastery in your Reflective Assessment Portfolio (RAP).

Rubric for Promise & Peril, Sequential Art, Nonfiction, Post-Multicultural, and Intellectual Freedom CCIs
Promise & Peril CCI Sequential Art, Radical Change? CCI Nonfiction, the Neglected Stepchild CCI Whose Face Do I See? Post-Multicultural CCI Bold Choices, Intellectual Freedom CCI

Blog Contributions -- **Heads-up that the Bold Choices, Intellectual Freedom CCI will require VoiceThread rather than blog posts.** Contributions via blog (text, audio, video, infographic, etc.) share your thinking clearly and compellingly. Post moves beyond journal-like, egocentric writing to creating a piece that transcens the particulars to reach and compel an audience. Blogging has been called the "new persuasive essay." Issues of critical literacy and social justice are particularly helpful to note.
 * Criterion**

Comments to colleagues' blogs are substantive and thoughtfully extend the conversation. Remember "It is the questions that enlightens"(Inesco), so questions are good. Just be sure to respond when you ask questions and they are answered and when someone asks you questions.
 * Comments & Conversation**

Engagement includes thoughtful comments that demonstrate original thinking and reflection to extend the conversation.
 * Seminar Contributions**

Thoughtfully and thoroughly completed.
 * Self-Assessment**