Words and Their Usage (J2)

I am sure for many people MS Word was their introduction to digital writing tools. As a part of the Microsoft Office Suite, it's pretty widely available, and while its interface is not too deep, Word does offer a lot of options. Having said that, my time working with Word was rather short compared to most people. While I have explored it in my younger years as an early writing tool, I am far more comfortable using Google Drive for my writing projects. Having your information saved on the cloud in addition to having more plugins and a more accessible interface made Drive very appealing to me. That said, I am glad to have the opportunity to revisit Word and explore it further!

Copyright law is very pertinent to me as a writer and an artist. I want myself and my students to be able to create in a safe space where we can feel comfortable in the knowledge that our intellectual property is protected. We covered some elements of copyright when I started my site for ENC 2135, and it will definitely come up if I or my students use NaNoWriMo or another publishing service. In the future, I hope to use programs like the Creative Commons to ensure that sites, games, or tools I design can be shared without the risk of theft. I also wish to be involved in making sure my students also get in touch with copyright licenses for their own writing projects. 

To ensure my students do not infringe on the copyrights of others, I will help direct them to sources in the Creative Commons, and encourage the use of citation. Citation will also be important in the name of academic integrity, to make sure that their using their own work and are crediting the artists and educators that inspire them. I would also allow for students to devise pen names that they can use in my class, as well as validating the sites I use or preferably devise myself to ensure my students' privacy is protected. 

Technology for a New Generation (J1)

Technology can be a great way to streamline the process of learning for both teachers and students. Whether it is through an informational Power Point or online textbooks, introducing new resources into the classroom allows for a more flexible style of learning. Furthermore, technology can help keep students engaged in the lesson by establishing more interactive elements into the curriculum. For teachers, technology provides a new means of diagnosing problems in their lesson plan and developing innovative solutions to them.

One resource that can help aid teachers in figuring out ways to incorporate technology effectively is the ISTE standards. Of these standards, I find the Innovative Designer standard for students to be particularly powerful as a Creative Writer. Being able to apply what you are learning and putting your work out there is extremely important in this field, and I want my students to have adequate opportunities to explore their individual passions in this way. I think the standard that gives me the most pause is the Analyst standard for educators. I am not terrible great with data analysis or with computing and understanding figures. I hope to improve in this regard so that I can have the information to benefit my students.

The term "digital native" is a difficult one for me to accept fully. While I recognize that our competency and familiarity with technology as a civilization will likely only stronger with each generation, I also have to recognize that what makes someone adept at navigating technology has far more to do with drive than it does with age. As technology becomes more and more revolutionary, more people are going to be inspired to explore these new and exciting opportunities. Who these people are, however, can vary wildly. Every person is coming into this generation with a different background, varying degrees of exposure to technology, and their own individual goals that they wish to achieve. What any person is capable is ultimately dictated by a combination of their passion for the craft and their willingness to adapt. And that is something available to everyone.

ISTE Innovative Designer Resource

When thinking about ways to incorporate innovative design into a writing space, my first thought goes to the NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month site. The idea behind NaNoWriMo is to challenge young writers to hone their skills by writing a novel over the course of November. While you do set a word count goal, you are not under any pressure to stick strictly to that goal. Writers are given the month October to plan using a number of helpful exercises provided on the site itself, and are encouraged to explore their own unique ideas. You can check it out here!

Welcome to Changeling Tales! (J0)

Welcome! My name is Tristan, and I have dedicated my life to the art of storytelling. Whether it be through writing, performing, or just having a fun time role-playing, my aim is always to craft a tale worth telling over and over again. My spare time is dedicated to fleshing out the worlds I have created, and the many peoples and cultures that call them home.

I must admit, I am in many regards a technological novice. Social media in particular has proven a significant challenge to adapt to. My intimate knowledge of art-based tools such as Google Docs, Krita, and my Huion tablet has helped me to be slightly more fluent in this area, however. The future of our civilization comes barreling towards us, and I eagerly await what shining wonders it has in store!

There is so much I still have to learn about the world, and so much more I wish to share. My hope for this class is that I might gain the skills necessary to help others make their dreams a reality. After all, isn't art meant to instruct us in the betterment of ourselves and our peers? I look forward to sharing this experience with all of you as we embark on this journey, and wish everyone the best of what this year has to offer!