As a graduate student I have few chances to teach upper level courses, so almost all of my teaching experience is with first year writing courses and first year literature courses, both of which are highly structured by a Writing Programs office (standard syllabus, learning outcomes, sometimes a particular reading list, etc.,). I’m having a hard time finding a chance to expose my students to work in the digital humanities because of the rigid structures put in place by the programs office. Part of what I’m looking forward to at the unconference is 1) finding ways to talk to a programs office about incorporating DH work that I believe will be highly effective for my students and 2) finding ways to work within the confinements of the first year courses.
I think that this is a really important topic, Shawn: how to incorporate digital pedagogy approaches in a class that is not necessarily yours to design or control.
I am going to voice a little hesitation about thinking that digital humanities is always the best inclusion for first-year comp, but it certainly can be included with first-year lit courses. And digital pedagogy writ large certainly belongs!