I’d like to say it was a dark and stormy night on the mean streets of Chicago, as truly auspicious journeys are known to begin. However, the climate and geography of the situation was considerably less than accommodating to such an introduction. It was, in fact, a bright and sunny day in Raleigh, North Carolina. This, however, would certainly not impact the auspiciousness of the adventure to come.
Deep in the bowels of NC State, our heroes slowly gathered, filtering into the dungeon below the fortress of Poe Hall. Happy and bright greetings abounded as we were quite literally surrounded by glowing screens, displaying the images of a singular computer screen, replicated in perfect detail on nearly every wall, regardless of where you look.
Our adventure began with revelry as we got to know each other. We met various and sundry individuals from the assembled horde as we engaged in a vigorous hunt. The prize for which we sought being the signatures of our other hunters, meeting criteria wild and unpredictable. Many surprises were discovered as it was revealed that Deb has a first edition copy of Gone with the Wind, Kevin was a trumpeter, and Kristi and Wilda grew up on farms (presumably not the same one).
After a short respite, with Dr. Pritchard in absentia (making copies) Dr. Oliver began reviewing our quest as he unrolled the scroll of the course syllabus, with Dr. Pritchard to return shortly. The tools of our journey will include a laptop…wifi will abound, but wired will be needed in your quarters. Our sage leader warned us that the power of England is prone to burning out our weak American devices, please check your devices to learn if they are rated for dual power (240 volts is standard across the pond). Many of your modern tools can handle this change through digital wizardry…but its better to double check than knock out the power to an entire building with your hairdryer.
We examined the schedule for the expedition and we are surely in for a great and powerful experience. While the first day is a bit more laid back, making our way around the campus of our new home, gathering supplies at a local grocery, or learning the joys of on-campus pubs, it quickly ramps up from there.
On day two expect to start having your brainpan filled with knowledge before heading out to Guildford castle where we will learn about our new hometown. The first weekend will give us some free time to explore the city of London (which is about a 45 minute ride in the Tube) with our group part of the time and later the party is permitted to divide in order to conquer more of what England has to offer.
After what will surely be a crazy weekend we will regather to continue our course work, visit Winchester, and see more castles as our investigation of Southern England continues. The next weekend involves less free time as our quest takes us to the White Cliffs of Dover on Saturday, leaving only Sunday free to continue our investigations as freelancers. The second week our studies and investigations continue. From there we conclude our time with a jousting festival before preparing to board our conveyances to off to our multitude of destinations.
Once we were all acquainted with the syllabus we were on to discuss the Moffett Framework, which will guide our literary journey through the course. I, You, It…that’s what it’s all about. A presentation was shown to us, including technological tools which we will and won’t be using and focusing on the distance between the author and the audience and the distance and the topic in order to classify different types (or modes) of writing.
With Moffettt’s Framework for writing well described, leaving us chomping at the bit to dig into some literacy work, we started with a Pre-Assessment for Writing Apprehension. One can not know how to teach others, if one does not first learn, and learning starts with knowing one’s self.
With that completed, it was time to engage in the most thrilling part of the day…paperwork, followed by lunch.
And with the arrival of sustenance, my duties as scribe come to an end…
Deep in the bowels of NC State, our heroes slowly gathered, filtering into the dungeon below the fortress of Poe Hall. Happy and bright greetings abounded as we were quite literally surrounded by glowing screens, displaying the images of a singular computer screen, replicated in perfect detail on nearly every wall, regardless of where you look.
Our adventure began with revelry as we got to know each other. We met various and sundry individuals from the assembled horde as we engaged in a vigorous hunt. The prize for which we sought being the signatures of our other hunters, meeting criteria wild and unpredictable. Many surprises were discovered as it was revealed that Deb has a first edition copy of Gone with the Wind, Kevin was a trumpeter, and Kristi and Wilda grew up on farms (presumably not the same one).
After a short respite, with Dr. Pritchard in absentia (making copies) Dr. Oliver began reviewing our quest as he unrolled the scroll of the course syllabus, with Dr. Pritchard to return shortly. The tools of our journey will include a laptop…wifi will abound, but wired will be needed in your quarters. Our sage leader warned us that the power of England is prone to burning out our weak American devices, please check your devices to learn if they are rated for dual power (240 volts is standard across the pond). Many of your modern tools can handle this change through digital wizardry…but its better to double check than knock out the power to an entire building with your hairdryer.
We examined the schedule for the expedition and we are surely in for a great and powerful experience. While the first day is a bit more laid back, making our way around the campus of our new home, gathering supplies at a local grocery, or learning the joys of on-campus pubs, it quickly ramps up from there.
On day two expect to start having your brainpan filled with knowledge before heading out to Guildford castle where we will learn about our new hometown. The first weekend will give us some free time to explore the city of London (which is about a 45 minute ride in the Tube) with our group part of the time and later the party is permitted to divide in order to conquer more of what England has to offer.
After what will surely be a crazy weekend we will regather to continue our course work, visit Winchester, and see more castles as our investigation of Southern England continues. The next weekend involves less free time as our quest takes us to the White Cliffs of Dover on Saturday, leaving only Sunday free to continue our investigations as freelancers. The second week our studies and investigations continue. From there we conclude our time with a jousting festival before preparing to board our conveyances to off to our multitude of destinations.
Once we were all acquainted with the syllabus we were on to discuss the Moffett Framework, which will guide our literary journey through the course. I, You, It…that’s what it’s all about. A presentation was shown to us, including technological tools which we will and won’t be using and focusing on the distance between the author and the audience and the distance and the topic in order to classify different types (or modes) of writing.
With Moffettt’s Framework for writing well described, leaving us chomping at the bit to dig into some literacy work, we started with a Pre-Assessment for Writing Apprehension. One can not know how to teach others, if one does not first learn, and learning starts with knowing one’s self.
With that completed, it was time to engage in the most thrilling part of the day…paperwork, followed by lunch.
And with the arrival of sustenance, my duties as scribe come to an end…