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A talk I had to give for my promotion to associate professor. Had to be local and for a wide audience while still offering a sense of what I do ;-)
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'Ett korthus, en trasmatta och skrivandets
solipsism'
A house of cards, a rag mat and
the solipsism of writing
Magnus Gustafsson
Division for Language and Communication
140131
A change of emphasis..
Engineering
product
Improving
knowledge
production
Integrating
Language and
Content
Technical
communication
Awareness of
situation, genre,
terminology, structure,
style, and audience
…requiring high resolution alignment
Decide / Revise learning outcomes
Revise / define Activities
Assessment revision / design
Criteria definition /
revision
Feedback re-design
Content revision / definition
Student profile analysis
Consider medium of instruction
Puzzle
Adaptation to contexts
Physics:Lay audience
Data commentary,
Nanoletters lab report,
Debate
Mechanical
engineering: CDIO-focus
Design reports
Industry
Chemistry:Technical report;
Lab instructions,
Concept seminars
IT programme:
Separate, isolated
but „large‟ courses
Assignment design
by us
Different emphases relative ILOs
Integration of language into content Enhancing student learning
through communication
Learning to write
Writing to learn
Language proficiency
Technical communication
Barrie. (2007). ”A conceptual framework for the teaching and learning of generic graduateattributes”. Studies in Higher Education. 32(4), 439-458
Barrie’s generic attributes model
• Conceptions
– Precursor
– Complement
– Translation
– Enabling
• Methods
– Remedial
– Associated
– Teaching content
– Teaching process
– Engagement
– Participatory
Teaching
Learning
An integrated approach
“we support a shift away from a 'prerequisites model', where 'communication skills' are conceptualized as prerequisites and somebody else's responsibility, as indicative of an uncritical academic and disciplinary socialization model. Instead, our research promotes a model of critical understanding of the teaching and learning of discipline-specific academic literacies”
Gustafsson. et al. (2011). Collaborating for content and language integrated learning: The situated character of faculty collaboration and student learning. Across the Disciplines, 8(3).
Outcomes, activities, and
assessment aligned for
enhancing student learning of
disciplinary content and
discourse
– targeted language and
discourse awareness
– targeted genres and
audiences
– targeted content
knowledge depth
A house of cards / Houses of cards
• Fragile set-up of
activities
• Multiple „outcome
spaces‟
• Model strength and
validity
Toward rag matting!
The data speak for themselves
Anything you could think of there’s the data. You could look at it
and have your answer. (Jason, 1994, II. 512-515)
(Winsor 1996:32)
Rag mat theory I
Rag matting ;-)
• In general, quantum mechanics does not predict a single definite result for an observation. Instead, it predicts a number of different possible outcomes and tells us how likely each of these is. That is to say, if one made the same measurement on a large number of similar systems, each of which started off in the same way, one would find that the result of the measurement would be A in a certain number of cases, B in a different number, and so on. One could predict the approximate number of times that the result would be A or B, but one could not predict the specific result of an individual measurement. Quantum mechanics therefore introduces an unavoidable element of unpredictability or randomness into science. Einstein objected to this very strongly, despite the important role he had played in the development of these ideas. Einstein was awarded the Nobel prize for his contribution to quantum theory. Nevertheless, Einstein never accepted that the universe was governed by chance; his feelings were summed up in his famous statement "God does not play dice". Most other scientists, however, were willing to accept quantum mechanics because it agreed perfectly with experiment. Indeed, it has been an outstandingly successful theory and underlies nearly all of modern science and technology.
Linking and qualifying
• In general, quantum mechanics does not predict a single definite result for an observation. Instead, it predicts a number of different possible outcomes and tells us how likely each of these is. That is to say, if one made the same measurement on a large number of similar systems, each of which started off in the same way, one would find that the result of the measurement would be A in a certain number of cases, B in a different number, and so on. One could predict the approximate number of times that the result would be A or B, but one could not predict the specific result of an individual measurement. Quantum mechanics therefore introduces an unavoidable element of unpredictability or randomness into science. Einstein objected to this very strongly, despite the important role he had played in the development of these ideas. Einstein was awarded the Nobel prize for his contribution to quantum theory. Nevertheless, Einstein never accepted that the universe was governed by chance; his feelings were summed up in his famous statement "God does not play dice". Most other scientists, however, were willing to accept quantum mechanics because it agreed perfectly with experiment. Indeed, it has been an outstandinglysuccessful theory and underlies nearly all of modern science and technology.
Linking and qualifying
• In general, quantum mechanics does not predict a single definite result for an observation. Instead, it predicts a number of different possible outcomes and tells us how likely each of these is. That is to say, if one made the same measurement on a large number of similar systems, each of which started off in the same way, one would find that the result of the measurement would be A in a certain number of cases, B in a different number, and so on. One could predict the approximate number of times that the result would be A or B, but one could not predict the specific result of an individual measurement. Quantum mechanics therefore introduces an unavoidable element of unpredictability or randomness into science. Einstein objected to this very strongly, despite the important role he had played in the development of these ideas. Einstein was awarded the Nobel prize for his contribution to quantum theory. Nevertheless, Einstein never accepted that the universe was governed by chance; his feelings were summed up in his famous statement "God does not play dice". Most other scientists, however, were willing to accept quantum mechanics because it agreed perfectly with experiment. Indeed, it has been an outstandinglysuccessful theory and underlies nearly all of modern science and technology.
Linking, qualifying, explanation & elaboration
In general, quantum mechanics does not predict a single definite result for an observation. Instead, it predicts a number of different possible outcomes and tells us how likely each of these is. That is to say, if one made the same measurement on a large number of similar systems, each of which started off in the same way, one would find that the result of the measurement would be A in a certain number of cases, B in a different number, and so on. One could predict the approximate number of times that the result would be A or B, but one could not predict the specific result of an individual measurement. Quantum mechanics therefore introduces an unavoidable element of unpredictability or randomness into science. Einstein objected to this very strongly, despite the important role he had played in the development of these ideas. Einstein was awarded the Nobel prize for his contribution to quantum theory. Nevertheless, Einstein never accepted that the universe was governed by chance; his feelings were summed up in his famous statement "God does not play dice". Most other scientists, however, were willing to accept quantum mechanics because it agreed perfectly with experiment. Indeed, it has been an outstandingly successful theory and underlies nearly all of modern science and technology.
Rag matting: the straws!
quantum mechanics does not predict a single definite result for an observation
[it] introduces an unavoidable element of unpredictability or randomness into science
scientists … were willing to accept quantum mechanics because it agreed … with experiment
[it] underlies modern science and technology.
Some rag mats have more straws!
3. Red wine potently inhibits PDGF-dependent proliferation and migration of VSMCPDGF-dependent cell cycle progression was measured by BrdU incorporation. PDGF-BB leads to a concentration-dependent increase in BrdU uptake in VSMC (Fig. 2A). Preincubation with red wine potently inhibits the maximal PDGF response at concentrations similar to those inhibiting PDGFR activation whereas white wine has no effect (Fig. 2B). Moreover, red wine only slightly inhibits serum (FCS) -induced mitogenesis, further indicating the specificity of the inhibitory effect for PDGF. PDGF-BB leads to a dramatic increase in cell migration to ~eightfold of the basal level. When the chemo-attractant is administered in the presence of red wine, PDGF-dependent chemotaxis is almost completely inhibited; coadministration with white wine does not affect the migratory response toward PDGF-BB (Fig. 2C, D).
Rag mat theory II
• The straws have to
be malleable or
flexible as it were
– So moisturise them
in water
– The „insulation‟ of the
weft then helps
protect the straws
Some rag mats have more straws!
3. Red wine potently inhibits PDGF-dependent proliferation and migration of VSMCPDGF-dependent cell cycle progression was measured by BrdU incorporation. PDGF-BB leads to a concentration-dependent increase in BrdU uptake in VSMC (Fig. 2A). Preincubation with red wine potently inhibits the maximal PDGF response at concentrations similar to those inhibiting PDGFR activation whereas white wine has no effect (Fig. 2B). Moreover, red wine only slightly inhibits serum (FCS) -induced mitogenesis, further indicating the specificity of the inhibitory effect for PDGF. PDGF-BB leads to a dramatic increase in cell migration to ~eightfold of the basal level. When the chemo-attractant is administered in the presence of red wine, PDGF-dependent chemotaxis is almost completely inhibited; coadministration with white wine does not affect the migratory response toward PDGF-BB (Fig. 2C, D).
On writing and solipsism
Solipsism…
“the philosophical idea that only one's own mind
is sure to exist. As an epistemological position,
solipsism holds that knowledge of anything
outside one's own mind is unsure.”
Possibly an exaggeration, but for a few
minutes I will be considering context
and audience adaptation as a
threshold concept and think of
solipsism at the same time…
Learning as troublesome
• Meyer & Land (p.
375): “Threshold
concepts lead not
only to transformed
thought but to a
transfiguration of
identity and
adoption of an
extended
discourse.”
Meyer & Land, (2005) ”Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge (2): Epistemologicalconsiderations and a conceptual framework for teaching and learning” Higher Education 49: 373-388
A brief look at activity theory first
Russell & Yañes. 2003. “„Big Picture People Rarely Become Historians': Genre
Systems and the Contradictions of General Education” in Writing Selves/Writing
Societies, Bazerman & Russell
Activity theory: ’Beth’ struggles!
Russell & Yañes. …
’Literacy’ / ’proficiency’ in activity systems!
An activity systems explanation: Talk is cheap!
Russell & Yañes. 2003 …
How demanding is the writing?
Language for academic
purposes (LAP) as simple
• „Short-lived‟
• Narrow audience
• Limited purposes
• Limited number of genres
• Low stakes (relatively)
• Guided
LAP as foreign or artificial
• Artificial purposes
• Contrived contexts
• Non-audience
• Feedback discourse
• Grading horizon
• Transfer issues between
communities
Purpose(s)
• Project courses:
– ”Provide a context for the study. Separate the study and the report. Focus on what you intend to do and why there is a need for it.”
– “The purpose, which is brief and concise, motivates the project and explains why it is done. Describes what meeting the technical goals will lead to”
• Bachelor writing guidelines:
– “The introduction places the report into a wider context and
points to its relevance and newsworthiness. It functions as an
introduction to the entire report and should give the reader the
necessary information required to understand its contents.”
• Theses
– ”The introduction places the report into a wider context and points to itsrelevance and newsworthiness.The introduction should present the keyterms used and make it clear how the thesis contributes to the field by explaining the research objectives, arguing that the research is important and placing the study in the context of previous research.”
Scenarios Place Students in
Domain-Specific Roles
• Rather than you, students‟ audience
becomes workplace readers or listeners
• Rather than discussing a topic to show what
they know, students must use what they know
to help their audience perform a practical
task
• Consequently: the usefulness of
communications becomes the focus of
teaching and evaluation
Learning as troublesome: Unparking the TC
• Wherein lies the TC in this?– The full / genuine
understanding ofaudience and context adaptation
– The tendency towrite for one‟s ownperspective
– Is this different? TC in terms ofproficiency / literacy
Meyer & Land, (2005) ”Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge (2): Epistemologicalconsiderations and a conceptual framework for teaching and learning” Higher Education 49: 373-388
Solipsism relative peer response
“What we need most as writers is not evaluation of the quality of
our writing or advice about how to fix it, but an accurate account of
what goes on inside readers‟ heads as they read our words”
In Peter Elbow and Patricia Belanoff in A Community of
Writers: A Workshop Course in Writing. NY: McGraw-Hill,
1989, 1995.
Learning to write
Writingto learn Writing
Product
Process
Reporting:
exams
reports
essays
posters
articles
Studying:
(b)logs,
journals
notes,
wikis
Solipsism and the clown of writing!
Enhanced learning – a smiling clown!
Solipsism and disciplinary discourses
Wolff, K. (2013). „Reservoirs‟ and „Repertoires‟: Epistemological and Discursive Complexities in
Multidisciplinary Engineering Practice. Journal of Academic Writing Vol. 3 No. 1.
Solipsism and levels of representation
InstructionsCase / Lab / Project notes
Problem Methods
Case / Lab assignment
Project report, article
Oral presentation
ActivitiesLiterature Evaluation
On a closing blackbird note
V:
I don't know which to
prefer
The beauty of inflections
Or the beauty of
innuendos
The blackbird whistling
Or just after
Wallace Stevens. Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird.
[this was not what Stevens had in mind but …]
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!
What can we talk about now?