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Digital Pedagogy: Podcast

Assignment

This assignment was part of a larger 3-part FOUND OBJECT PROJECT (See VISUAL STORYTELLING ASSIGNMENT on the TEXTS, STORIES, ESSAYS PAGE)

Overview:  This is a three-part, multi-modal, independent and collaborative project based on a found object in our local community that includes the following elements:

  • ·      An individually-authored creative (fiction or nonfiction) visual story;
  • ·      A group podcast created with 3 classmates whose found objects have some relevance to each other that discusses the cultural meaning of the connection between the individual objects and stories;
  • ·      A collaborative cultural story, created with your podcast group. The cultural story will involve the curation of the revised individual visual essays and the group podcast as well as writing an introduction page that synthesizes all of the individual elements of your story to make a meaningful contribution to the community.

GROUP PODCAST

 

Overview: Find 3-4 of your classmates’ stories that you think have some meaningful relationship to your own and create a carefully written, edited, and executed podcast discussing that relationship. As a group, formulate one question that synthesizes your objects and reveals their combined potential cultural meaning. Write a script or outline and record a 10 to 12-minute podcast addressing the question and the combined meaning of the objects. Discuss the relevance of asking this cultural question: Who does it impact? Who benefits from this question being asked or, conversely, remaining unanswered or even unacknowledged? How might the objects you’ve chosen speak to or address this question as well as offer possible answers or solutions?

 

Assignment Guidelines and Instructions:

1.     Write a 1000-1500-word script, outline, or series of questions for a carefully crafted, well organized 10-12-minute podcast. Clarity is key. Keeping your audience in mind, craft a focused discussion rather than a stiff reading or free-for-all conversation. The degree and quality of thought and editing put into the script or outline will be evaluated and will impact the final outcome of your podcast. Include the following elements:

·      introduce your audience to the objects and the questions/issues each individual’s visual story raised without re-hashing the stories themselves,

·      explain to your audience how those individual stories can be synthesized by considering them as part of a larger cultural narrative,

·      develop a discussion of the implications of the larger question/narrative that emerges from that synthesis,

·      and consider how the found objects might help us answer or address that larger issue.

2.     Your final podcast should be as free of editing mistakes and noise as possible (i.e. check out snowball mics from the Digital Media Lab and record in a quiet, carpeted room or reserve the Digital Media lab sound booth).

3.     The podcast should last at least 10 and no more than 12 minutes, including audio transitions and sound effects.

4.     We will have a very brief introduction to the free, downloadable sound-editing software Audacity in class, but you can use any recording/editing tools you want. If you need help with editing, sign up for a DML consultation session when student workers who are familiar with Audacity will be in the lab.

5.     Your discussion should include each group member’s viewpoint. That is, every group member’s voice and opinion must be heard equally during your podcast. Each member of the group should speak for at least 2 and no more than 3 minutes (not continuously necessarily).

 

Posting and Submission Instructions:

A complete draft of your Podcast should be posted to your final project page on the course website by the beginning of class on the date your group signed up for on the schedule. Be sure your page is marked for “public” viewing and include a byline with ALL of your group members’ names or pseudonyms. We will listen to the complete podcast in class and give feedback on the day the draft is due. Also, submit your script to Canvas on draft workshop day. This is a group assignment so only one person in the group needs to upload the script. FINAL revised podcasts should be posted on the course website on by the beginning of the class period on the due date as part of the complete collaborative cultural story.

 

Grading:

Podcasts will be evaluated in terms of:

  • ·      how well you develop and communicate a specific, original, insightful, provocative purpose;
  • ·      how you organize your discussion and how well it flows, including the use of transitions;
  • ·      how gracefully and insightfully you make use of plenty of high quality (specific, relevant) examples or evidence to support your points rather than relying entirely on generalizations;
  • ·      the verbal clarity and stylistic finesse of your discussion (this includes things like pronunciation, annunciation, pace, and diction as well as use of well-planned transitions using music or other sounds. Presenters should speak coherently, not rush or ramble unnecessarily, not simply read text, and all be given equal time).

 

Rubric

This Rubric was Created Collaboratively with my 2017 Digital Writing Students:

 

Podcast

Advanced

Competent

Developing

Basic

Purpose

Bold, original, and provocative. Social/cultural context considered. Introduces each story and clarifies what brings them together. Asks or presents a clear question to be addressed that establishes a focused purpose.

Original. Social/ cultural context considered. Introduces and shows connections between stories. Asks or presents a question to be addressed and establishes a focused purpose.

Somewhat original. Introduces but only loosely connects each story. Asks or presents a question that may be difficult to address and/or establishes an overly broad purpose.

Hackneyed or unoriginal. Little to no cultural context considered. Introduces each story but fails to show a connection. Asks no question or one that is vague, overly broad, or impossible to address in given time.

Content

 

Original, perceptive, creative, well-informed, engaging discussion. Catchy, clever introduction. All speakers (and their objects) are introduced creatively and are heard equally throughout. Discussion maintains clear focus, demonstrates depth and breadth of insight, and illuminates cultural meaning. Question ultimately addressed and theme or message distinctly clear. Very limited, or purposeful summary (of visual stories, e.g.), if any. Speakers use plenty of specific, relevant examples or evidence to support points rather than relying on generalizations.

Vocabulary & transition sounds fit purpose and target audience as well as create a distinct atmosphere or tone. Succinct. 10-12 min long.*

Original, creative, informed, engaging discussion. Strong introduction. All speakers (and their objects) are introduced and voices heard equally throughout. Discussion maintains focus, demonstrates insight, and addresses cultural meaning. Question addressed and theme/message made clear. Speakers use little to no summary, provide quality examples or evidence to support points, and avoid too much generalization. Vocabulary & transition sounds fit purpose and audience. It does not seem too short nor too long. 10-12 min. long.*

Content may be derivative or under-informed. Introduction may be inappropriate or lacking. Speakers’ identities and objects may be unclear and/or speakers are not given equal time. Somewhat engaging discussion, but interest lags in parts. Central question may be implicit but not always clear. Theme/ message, cultural meaning missing or confused. Discussion may involve too many generalizations. Transitions and vocabulary don’t always fit purpose and audience. May not adhere to length requirement, seeming overly long or too short.

Derivative or inaccurate content. Introduction inappropriate or lacking. Speakers’ identities and objects may be unclear and/or speakers are not given equal time. Lackluster discussion. Central question missing or unclear. Theme/ message opaque, no cultural meaning articulated. Discussion involves mostly generalizations. Transitions missing. Vocabulary doesn’t fit purpose and audience. Does not adhere to length requirement and/or is overly long or too short.

Org.

Discussion is introduced creatively, focused on the central question throughout, and organized in a clear, logical way that is easy to follow. Well-executed transitions, effects, & edits using music or other sound are relevant to the subject, add significant meaning to overall content, and contribute significantly to the flow of discussion. A distinct and meaningful conclusion.

Discussion is introduced, focused on the central question throughout, and organized logically. Transitions, effects, & edits using music or other sound do not distract from content and  contribute to flow. A clear and useful conclusion.

Discussion is logically organized for the most parts but may be missing  a key element such as intro or conclusion. Focus may wander unproductively from central question. Transitions, effects, & edits are inappropriate or distracting. Conclusion simply summarizes what has already been said or otherwise doesn’t add meaning.

Discussion lacks organizational elements and flow, making it hard to follow. Multiple digressions make focus unclear. No meaningful transitions, effects, edits. Introduction and conclusion missing or ineffective.

Clarity, Accuracy, and Style

Style is engaging, consistent, and appropriate to purpose and audience. All speakers are always audible, annunciate well, maintain appropriate pace (rhythm and voice punctuation), and are easy to follow (not rushing or rambling unnecessarily, not simply reading text). No pronunciation, or diction errors. All copyrighted

material, if used, is

identified in credits or written Works Cited and

permissions considered.**

Style is consistent and appropriate to purpose and audience. All speakers are audible, understandable, maintain appropriate pace, and are easy to follow (not rushing or rambling unnecessarily, not simply reading text). Very few pronunciation, or diction errors. All copyrighted material, if used, is identified in credits or Works Cited and permissions considered.**

Style may be inconsistent and/or inappropriate to purpose and audience. Not all speakers are audible, understandable, or maintain appropriate pace, making the discussion difficult to follow. Multiple pronunciation or diction errors. Not all copyrighted material is identified in credits or Works Cited and permissions are not considered.**

Style is inconsistent and/or inappropriate to purpose and audience. Most of the speakers  are inaudible, unintelligible, or speak at an inappropriate pace, making the discussion very difficult to follow. A distracting number of  pronunciation or diction errors. Copyrighted and/or reference material used but no credits or Works Cited included.**

 

 *Length requirement may be revised after initial drafts are made.

**Credits are not considered part of length requirement. If written Works Cited is used, post on course website below link to podcast.