Ohio State announces 2010 DMAC Institute

The Ohio State University's Department of English and the Digital Media Project are proud to host a two-week institute on the effective use of digital media in college composition classrooms. Participants will explore a range of contemporary digital literacy practices—alphabetic, visual, audio, and multimodal—and apply what they learn to the design of meaningful assignments, syllabi, curricula, and programs.

Among other activities, participants will

• design, create and use web texts, online portfolios, video projects, audio essays, and other digital compositions;

• experiment with different genres of digital representation (e.g., documentary, literacy autobiography, interview) and primary resources (e.g., letters, photographs, maps, sound recordings);

• discuss the complex issues of access, equity, agency, and literacy using the perspectives of both theory and practice to unpack these important concepts.

The goal of DMAC is to suggest and encourage innovative rhetorically–based approaches to composing that students and faculty can use as they employ digital media in support of their own educational and professional goals, in light of the specific context at their home institutions and within their varied personal experiences.

Knowledgeable staff members will provide individualized assistance and support as participants explore digital media. All instruction will take place in computer lab/classrooms nationally recognized as models of excellence.

Both faculty and graduate scholars are warmly invited to attend. No previous experience with digital media is required. The fee for the institute is $2000. As of 2010, we have a new process for you to receive graduate credit through your home institution. If you would like to receive graduate credit from your institution, please have your advisor contact Cindy Selfe (selfe.2@osu.edu) so that she can document the work and number of class hours you are completing. Room and board costs vary according to accommodations.

DMAC was an incredible, intensive learning experience that could have been overwhelming had it not been run by such an amazing staff. Professors Selfe and DeWitt were excellent instructors and fostered a wonderfully friendly and productive atmosphere that made learning these new technologies and skills exceptionally easy and fun.

DMAC Participant 2009

The lab assistants were truly "assistants" rather than "monitors," people who not only could help but were genuinely interested in doing so. These folks modeled for us another crucial component of making multimodal composition instruction work--the absolute necessity of support staff to multiply the effectiveness of lead instructors by giving people pinpoint, on-task advice and assistance in working with unfamiliar equipment, software, and writing.

DMAC Participant 2009

Thank you for providing such a safe yet challenging learning environment. You created such an atmosphere of collaboration and congeniality. I felt at home; I felt comfortable asking questions; I felt stretched to my mental limits (good thing!); I felt reassured that what I'm doing as a professional is on track; I felt gratified in what I accomplished (even though it's unfinished); and I felt like I found some real mentors who care about my progress and contributions to the field. You are tops, the "bees knees," the best I've encountered in graduate instruction ?. Thanks for such a wonderful, growing, powerful learning experience. DMAC rocks! You do the rhet/comp field proud.

DMAC Participant 2007

You guys did an incredible job! The DMAC was well-planned and organized ahead of time, but you all were flexible and able to adapt to meet the needs of the participants as they arose. It was amazing to me the depth and breadth of instruction you guys packed into 2 intense (but fun!) weeks. I hope I can come again. I will definitely recommend DMAC highly!

DMAC Participant 2007

Over and above the access, training and introductions to such a wide array of digital media (which is phenomenal and necessary!), you all have created an atmosphere of freedom to experiment, ask stupid questions, and explore a rich and multilayered intellectual territory here. Thank you.

DMAC Participant 2007

"Ths institute has multiple audiences, and it does a good job of meeting the needs of varied skill levels. Instructors are well aware of the learning curves, difficulties, and anxieties we all bring to DMAC. I appreciated the instructors' styles, honesty, and knowledge. The tech support was ample....I'm leaving ere with so much to think about, a new vocabulary, better technology skills, resources, ways to adopt the work to my class and a connection to a new community of scholars....Too cool!"

DMAC Participant 2006

For more information, contact:

Katie DeLuca, Associate Director, DMAC
Department of English ~ The Ohio State University
64 W. 17th Ave., Denney Hall 421
Columbus, OH 43210
614.688.3779 ~ kmdeluca@gmail.com