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Dr. Gardner Campbell |
I am excited about participating in a New Media Faculty-Staff Development Seminar titled, “Awakening the Digital Imagination.” The course meets once a week to discuss the intellectual history of the digital age "we currently inhabit—and our students are more immersed in every day” as described by our leader, Dr. Gardener Campbell, director of the Academy for Teaching and Learning.
During the course, we will read an anthology titled The New Media Reader. According to the editors' preface: "Understanding new media is almost impossible for those who aren't actively involved in the experience of new media; for deep understanding, actually creating new media projects is essential to grasping their workings and poetics. The ideas described in these selections can open important new creative areas for beginners and professionals alike.”
The book contains several essays written by various artists, ranging from Vannevar Bush to Marshall McLuhan. I think the chapters will help provide context and ideas for the courses I teach. I am always looking for new ideas for my courses with the hopes of improving them.
Each week, participants will take turns leading discussions. My colleague Liz and I signed up for the chapter written by McLuhan because it is one with which we are most familiar. However, I am very excited about the other chapters as well. We are required to blog about readings throughout the seminar, so you will definitely get to know more about the book and new media.