Is this where we are telling what we are doing with blog's in our classes to help get ready for this computer's and writing proposal?

I don't know that I'm doing anything particularly special. I am teaching an introduction to literature class and I am having students compose blog/journals before they come to class in order to prepare for the discussions we have.

In addition, I've created a book that contains the course materials, primarily the syllabus and the daily reading schedule and some directions for the blog. I am thinking of having the students create a collaborative book, but right now I can remember how to do a book myself so on have to play around with that and see what my memory can dredge up.

For those who are interested, I'm using Dragon NaturallySpeaking to compose this. I have only had to make one correction so far. It seems to work pretty well though it has some training at complete. Anyway, I look forward to hearing how people are using drupal in classes.

You can see my class site at bleckblog.org

glad to hear that dragon is working for you. hope it keeps improving, too.

While I believe that much open source software is often comparable in terms of features and performance, the greatest drawback is often for the newbie: minimal documentation or difficult installation procedures. While Drupal is better than some open source software in this regard, it could benefit from easier installation and enhanced end-user documentation.

But the real drawback of Drupal for writing teachers wanting to use it in their classes is actually a consequence of it's versatility. A Drupal site can be like Kairosnews, Commontext, Drupal, my class site, my personal weblog or the CW2004 Conference Weblog. Each of these sites has highly specific uses and requires different configuration setups (see some more ideas about possible uses).

Since any site configuration in the basic installation would only benefit one type of possible site, when someone installs the base Drupal installation, it's like an empty MOO without rooms. So I can install a Drupal site in my server in five minutes, but configuring can take a couple of hours.

Consequently, I've been working on a Drupal for Education distribution. Brad's class, Terra's and my own represent the first stage of development and testing. With some evaluation from them, and from many of you, I hope to develop it further and include some specific installation information for teacher's installing and using a Drupal for Education classroom site for the first time.

So my goal, by C&W, is to have the distribution ready to go, ready to download. And with a fraction of the configuration work necessary when compared to installing a base Drupal site downloaded from Drupal.org.

Charlie's 100% right on that...man, I set up a Drupal site in about 15 or so minutes this morning, and have spent the past 15 hours trying to get everything from structural configuration to CSS formatting the way I want it. However, the versatility is incredible. The more I work with this, the more I realize just how awesome it can be.

And I've had a 180 degree turn regarding "Collaborative books." Wow. I can think of a zillion ways to go with that. However, the way that struck me as I was considering how I'll use it in my class next semester was that at the same time a person runs a book project with students actively, and consciously, contributing to the text--like a manual on writing technical documents or the history of rhetoric--you, the teacher, could also compose a very spiffy teaching portfolio behind the scenes.

I may take that on in the Spring--a book which brings together the assignment page, several forum discussions on topics, perhaps a series of journal postings on the assignment--or the students' thinking, my own blog reflections (or better, videoblog), final documents, and sections of whatever chat sessions might go on. It is pretty amazing to think about how it could all go together.

Drupal also allows for interesting ways to layer all of this. I installed the 'annotations' module, and thought that I'd choose either that or the comment feature, but rather than choose one or the other, it is worthwhile, I think, to assign one to all user-types, and then create a different user type who can see only the other--so in my project, I might respond to students--and have them interact with one another via comments. But I'd also have the annotations feature on, make my notes on the spots where they matter, and then set up a "reviewer" user class who can also access the annotations.

Presumeably, with only minor changes to the module, one could install multiple versions of the annotation module--make a second db table set for it, be sure the names are changed in the module file, and tweak the color settings/css classes for the super-scripted numbers, and *}poof{* you have multiple layers of annotation for different audience types.

Anyway...it is definitely an intimidating process to sit down with a blank Drupal space...but it is pretty energizing, too. Kind of like a MOO, indeed.

jeff

now, start wrapping your mind around the taxonomy system and you'll see even how more versatile drupal is. taxonomy urls allow for imposing your own display structure on tagged content.

anyway, i'm glad someone else agrees with me now. drupal is great fun for techie c and w types who have been looking for a great, web-based course platform.

The light is bright on Drupal to be sure.

I think taxonomies are pretty powerful in terms of setting up a psuedo-group feature. Build a vocab called "groups" with terms "group 1"--"x" and set it as a Single-Required set, then from the front page, build a taxonomy URL as a Primary link or whatever type of link you want...maybe a Custom Block.

That method of grouping is non-restrictive...I could be in group 5 and post to group 1. I saw a groups module on the Drupal page...will they be integrated into 4.3? I was thinking about how to set my department page up on Drupal, and to then build some kind class development space which is directly a part of the dept site (maybe something like a "class.module" which a "teacher" role could start. And for something like that, restrictive grouping might be useful--same with some Forums. Some privacy is good. The only other way I can think to effect this type of thing would be to set up a unique Drupal install and DB for each class--maybe share a single "users" table for integration of the Writing Center and the Department resources pages...etc.

interesting.

Dragon's work and well thanks, and it is improving. Of course, there are a few quirky things happening now and again (such as Reagan coming out for Dragon). It does make for some interesting typos.

Getting back to drupal, it seems like both Jeff and Charlie are looking at this from much more of a "geek" perspective than I am. Geek, of course, is meant only in the best possible way. I am the kind of end-user who just wants things to work in to work easily and consistently. I do want to figure out, or have to figure out, how to configure the software in order to make things happen. I want to be able to go to a pulldown menu or some such thing and have a choice and have things go from there.

I am the type of user who tends to jump into particular software not really knowing how it is going to work by trying some fairly simple tasks that fit needs I have. For instance, the bloody feature allows me to, rather, it allows my students to compose their journals and make them available to the rest of the class jury. Because I require the journals be completed before class, this is resulted in students who have by and large done the expected are eating and who are ready to go with the discussion. So, this is very much like a traditional journal. Then I guess that fits pretty well with a blog is in a conceptual manner, though perhaps I misunderstand blocks conceptually. But I like this journaling feature not only because it gets students prepared before class but because I like to read what students and to think and I don't like using the paper trail so much.

Another feature I like, and amusing, is the book. This is where I put up the bulk of my course materials, I'm still figuring out how to make better use of them. In many respects, this is just a still Web based syllabus. This isn't something that needs to be done within drupal or any other blocking software but it works well, have them together (them being the journals and the class materials).

So, to try to be concise, which is hard for me to do when using Dragon by the way, I will discuss how drupal and several writing intensive literature courses has provided a platform from which to deliver class materials and to conduct classroom discussions. I will look at how student interaction with the text and each others' ideas before class has more effectively engaged students in the materials, leading to more productive classroom sessions.

Charlie, are you writing up the overall presentation proposal?

sure. however, we have to hear from some of the others before i can start.

btw: hope you don't mind. i deleted the duplicate comment posting.

Hey Charlie,

Have you made any progress on creating this Drupal Educational class "template?" I am actively considering using Drupal for next semester.

Also, where are the best instructions for installation of Drupal?

Thanks,

Lennie

Lennie Irvin
San Antonio College

Well, it's a work in progress, but very usable already. What it doesn't have is any documentation on how to adjust the configuration; still, it's a good step ahead of where a basic Drupal installation would put you.

Send me an email (cel4145 at fsu dot edu).

As for instruction information, there's some on Drupal: http://drupal.org/book/view/260.

Some things you should check out first:

If you have access to a Linux/Unix server with php/mysql/apache with recent versions of php and mysql (check the Drupal system requirements), then the installation is generally fairly easy. It will run on a Microsoft server, but I have never done it, nor is there as much support. Mac OSX too, but even less support.

You must be able to use .htaccess to change some php configuration variables (including magic_quotes) and to run apache mod_rewrite (not absolutely necessary, but the urls are ugly without it).

You'll need a mysql db, mysql username and password.

And, of course, you'll need a webserver account/place to put Drupal and terminal access to the server (such as SSH or Telnet).

Thanks for the joy, Jeff.. super enthusiazum about the tool.. I'm just starting and excited too about this flexible tool. But .. "annotations"?... is that a module no longer supported? It sounds exciting, though in searching at drupal, I get a sense of problems and regret if I've missed this one. Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I think that module was for 4.2 or 4.3. You can find it here in CVS.