I'm thinking about trying to write up a guide to how I grade and peer review papers using Word (comments and building blocks). Do you think something like this would be worthwhile to post? I've compared my grading techniques to what I see some of my friends and GTA's doing, and I really think my method is much more efficient and ultimately more helpful to students.
I'm thinking a video tutorial might be the way to go here. But I won't bother if everyone is anti-Microsoft. ;-)
Matt, sure I'd be interested
if you have the time it takes.
You need to revise your post
For example,
Then yes. I'd be interested then ;-)
In other news, I saw an announcement: "Richard Stallman switches to MS Word on Wine instead of using Koffice or OpenOffice." Did you see it?
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Charlie | cyberdash
Well
Well that's one reason I wanted to post it, cel, so maybe somebody can say "Here's how to do that in Open Office." That'd be great.
Also, tell me about this rms thing.
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the rms thing
Didn't you hear? He's following your lead of using MS and being a GPL/free software advocate.
(I can't believe you went for that one ;-)
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Charlie | cyberdash
You bet.
Sure, I would welcome a video like that, though I don't yet have 2007. I think our school is planning to upgrade next year, though.
I was thinking of doing a similar video for methods of teaching with Google Docs, but that project got put on the back burner when I came down with pneumonia. (Three weeks later, I'm finally feeling like my old self again.)
Dennis G. Jerz
Jerz's Literacy Weblog
Pneumonia
Geez, that sounds pretty serious. Isn't that how Jim Hensen died? Better take your vitamins. Wash them down with a shot of J.D. just to be on the safe side.
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Check out Barton's gaming blog at Armchair Arcade.
While I loathe MS Word, I
While I loathe MS Word, I also use it because it seems like everyone else does (I also use NeoOffice). Also, I think a "how to" on peer reviews and grading using 2007 would be great. Our English Department (Oregon State) is upgrading to MS 2007 this month, so if you did post one here, I could pass it around to profs and instructors here.
Holiday Gift
I'm starting to shop for holiday gifts for Charlie, so I'd be interested in an MS-sponsored MS Guide to MS Word, especially if it featured MS templates and opportunities to use proprietary add-ons. ;)
Charlie's Pride
LOL, well, okay, we'll see. I'm still trying to work out the best way to make a desktop video. Does anyone have any good solutions on that front? I know the usual "camtasia," but that's a bit out of my price range.
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Check out Barton's gaming blog at Armchair Arcade.
Minimal marking
Seems to me it doesn't matter, this once, that Plat Matt is wedded to MS Word: Open Office also has record changes and insert comment functions that I use just like I did MS track changes in the past. What's more to the point is that it sounds as if you've got some good techniques for minimizing time spent commenting on papers. Our WC at University of Miami has developed a workshop on that, aimed at faculty, and it has been quite popular. Obviously, there are lots of commercial products that enable one to do this (Bedford St. Martins' CompClass is the one I've most recently seen demonstrated), but any tips on how to approximate using word processors, Matt, would be most helpful.
Flash-based tutorials
Since you mention Camtasia, I'm guessing something that can produce Flash-based documents might work.
Two suggestions
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Charlie | cyberdash
Interested
I'd be interested in a video tutorial (as long as it doesn't use that gawdawful royalty-free background muzak). I'd bet your strategies will translate to other writing environs.
I like the idea of a straightup, narrated screencast. I have plenty of room on the iPod for those. A little Arctic Monkeys, some Matt Barton, Architecture in Helsinki ...good to go.
I'd use it
I could definitely use some input on how to make my process more efficient. My university is currently using Word 2007, so I'd be able to start implementing the suggestions immediately.
I'm curious, though. How much carryover would there be to other versions of Word (and other word processing programs)?
me too
I'd sure be interested to see what you are doing Matt. I'd like to see what might be transferable to other word processing softwares and what would only work with Word, since that's what students are using, like that's any reason for us to use it.
bradley || bleckblog.org