| Technology
Autobiography--Writing Autobiography Assignment (TATL) |
(contributed
by Michelle Manning)
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About
This Assignment
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An autobiography
is a narrative that tells a story of your life. A technology autobiography
tells the story of your life with technology and a writing autobiography
tells the story of your life with writing and learning. In this class,
a Technology Autobiography/Writing Autobiography (TATL) serves as the
first writing assignment. The TATL serves two purposes.
- It will
help you bring into focus your experiences with, attitudes toward, and
preferred modes of both technology and writing.
- When you
share this writing with others in the class, it should also help us
all more fully understand a broader range of interactions with writing
and with technology.
This is an
informal narrative writing and visual aid assignment. Use the following
questions as a guide, but don't feel compelled to answer every single
question--feel free to choose those questions that are interesting to
you or that evoke relevant stories. Speaking of stories, the more concrete
examples you give, the more this will seem like an autobiography. Try
to have fun with this. Concentrate on writing something that will be interesting
and informative for you to write and for others to read in the context
of this class about writing professionally in a technologically-oriented
workplace.
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What
To Do
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- Create
a time line, beginning in the year of your birth, tracing your memories
of both technology and writing. Note significant events, items, or revelations
along your life's journey.
- Note:
Define technologies in any way that makes sense to you.
- Essay:
Complete this assignment by the following class.
- When
it is due: At the start of our second class.
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The
Technology Autobiography Part: Questions About Technology
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- Recall
your earliest experiences with technological devices or artifacts.
- What
were they?
- What
do you remember about using them?
- What
were the popular gadgets in your house while you were growing up?
- What does
it mean to be technologically literate?
- Who
do you identify as being most technologically "literate" in your
life?
- How
do you measure up?
- What technologies
are on your desk at home?
- What
technological devices are you carrying now?
- What's
on your technological "wish list"?
- Do you
think there are social consequences or potential impacts on your lifestyle
that depend on your technological capabilities?
- How
do you expect to deal with new technologies in the future? What
advantages and problems do you see with the way you approach technology?
- What
is your preferred way of learning new technologies?
- In
what ways does good documentation help you adapt to technological
change? What type of documentation helps most?
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| The
Writing Autobiography Part: Questions About Writing |
- Recall
writing/learning experiences that are memorable because they were positive.
For example,
- a
time when a teacher (whether it was you or someone else) really
explained something well about writing that made a difference;
- a
time when you were totally engaged in the writing and learning process;
- a
time when you had an "epiphany" while writing or learning something;
- a
class that you loved being a part of, whether as a writer or a learner;
- Recall
a writing/learning experience that is memorable because it was negative.
- Tell
any stories about your writing and learning experiences that help
explain your preferred learning styles and contexts.
- Describe
what writing means to you personally as well as professionally
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