Live Blogging
Articles in this category are live blogs of my notes authored at (or shortly after) events, conferences, discussions, and presentations related to my areas of scholarly interest: digital strategic communication, digital & media literacy, information design, and human communication.
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Nonverbal Communication and Disney Animation at #NCA12
To kick off the panel, Darlene Hadrika presented a beautiful animated short film created by students at the University of Central Florida that showcases nonverbal communication in eye contact, body posture, and music. Lon Smart, a head character artist at Walt Disney Parks, showcased some of his work (which includes the Lion King’s hyenas and…
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Intersections in Nonverbal and Health Communication at #NCA12
At the 2012 National Communication Association annual convention, researchers from around the country shared their work in a panel titled “Intersections in Nonverbal and Health Communication.” I was drawn to the panel because most of the papers incorporated some kind of communication technology either in the research design or the methodology. Here’s a quick recap of the…
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Digital Democracy, through the eyes of Twitter
Ceasar McDowell, professor of practice of community development at MIT, spoke at Queens University of Charlotte’s Knight School of Communication tonight on the relationships between democracy and a digital society. Here’s the buzz on Twitter from the event: Dr. Ceasar McDowell speaks at Knight School Dr. Ceasar McDowell speaks at Knight School September 18, 2012…
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Learning Strategies for Teaching Professors
The Teaching Professor Conference was full of good teaching ideas and resources. Here are a few from selected panels I attended. For further information on one of these strategies, leave a comment here. Engaging Students in their Own Learning Angie Nippert and Kris Bransford of Concordia University and Karen Moroz of Hamline University The four…
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Why Won’t They Talk? Breaking the norms of the college classroom – #TPC12 Keynote Speaker
“A lecture about discussion is always a bad idea,” says Jay Howard of his keynote speech at the Teaching Professor Conference on June 2, 2012 in Washington, DC. Howard, Professor of Sociology and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Butler University, says effective discussions require careful planning and structuring. Norms exist in…
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The Lively Discussion: Getting students to talk and learn
“Any discussion protocol is a game that you play in class, linked to your course aims,” says Burdick. Using Film Noir as a backdrop for classroom techniques, Dakin Burdick, Director for the Center for Teaching Excellence at Endicott College in Massachusetts, advanced the conversation on classroom discussions at The Teaching Professor Conference June 2, 2012…
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Digital Storytelling and the Hero’s Journey
“Stories are interesting in ways that normal conversation is not,” says David Noah. In Noah’s freshman seminar course at the University of Georgia, students are invited to be part of a hero’s journey* that combines narrative design, digital storytelling, and personal experiences. “I wanted students to journal in a reflective way about their own academic…
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Digital Media Consumption
Consumption of online media is a hot topic in the study of digital literacies and at NCA 2011, the annual meeting of the National Communication Association occurring this week in New Orleans, Louisiana. This morning, I had the pleasure of responding to competitive research surrounding the topics of Facebook, social networking and online media consumption.…
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Condoleezza Rice on “finding your passion”
Former US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice opened her comments to students at Queens University of Charlotte this way: “While you’re in college, find your passion.” Dr. Rice, who has served as US National Security Adviser, Stanford University Provost, and is now a Professor of Political Science at Stanford University, spoke at Queens on October…
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Drumstrong at TEDxCLT
DrumSTRONG, a movement founded by Charlotte’s Scott Swimmer, brings people together through sound and rhythm. In 54 countries around the world, drums circles have sprung up with the hope of drumming to beat cancer. Livestreaming, YouTube, and blogging have all contributed to its spread. The Swimmer family’s story is inspiring. In a family of cancer…
J.A.McArthur 