Response #2 Shepparding Sheppard

Jennifer Sheppard is thrown onto a running treadmill when she agrees to create a "science-based, multimedia web site for kids..." (Sheppard, 123). The article is modernly applicable for teachers who find themselves in the predicament of teaching in a modern manner. Technology is reshaping both teaching and learning, modes and mediums, and how we generally communicate using these tools and techniques.

Sheppard wants to open the eyes of instructors to the wide range of skills needed to teach well. She argues that, "Oftentimes, teaching production of digital texts is viewed by those outside of the computers and composition field as simply a matter of imparting technical skill rather than facilitating development of diverse and significant literacies" (Sheppard, 123). Sheppard continues to move her argument forward by urging instructors to see how much "time and intellectual effort" (Sheppard, 123) must be exuded to execute a "developed, informative, persuasive, and engaging" of digital texts (Sheppard, 123). She is advocating that instructors move from merely prescriptive "texts" to descriptive;, that is, pointing more to the nonrestrictive or focusing on the character of actual material rather than abstract rules. Basically, she wants tools not rules (I apologize for the rhyming).

Sheppard stakes her claim based on personal experience of the text she was to create for the U.S. Forest Service Research Lab. The root of her argument is that production of media is not merely rhetorical or intellectual, but that you need both. Instructors must assess the audience, purpose, and objectives. Her goal was, "To communicate locally related, ecologically, and scientifically based information in a way that is appealing and informative to the target audience" (Sheppard, 123-124). She unpacks the obstacles that she had to overcome in the process, such as, the restraints of certain mediums or even the disagreement of her colleagues of who is the audience. She argues that in order to create this web site or any type of multimodal text that there is much more than traditional writing involved. Just like Alice in Wonderland, Sheppard had no idea how deep the rabbit hole went until she started falling.

I find it ironic that Sheppard is driving home to the audience in this text how important and central multimodal text can be, yet, her argument in this text is very limited. She may have created a fabulous website, but this article is going against what she is saying. It feels like an oxymoron article. How can you convince the audience how essential and intellectually challenging multimodal text can be to both teaching and learning, yet you cannot even use other mediums or modes in this same argument to us as readers. I agree with what Sheppard was trying to do and unpack, but I feel the argument fell short in delivery and impact on her audience.

#1 Captivation by "Text"

Fact [fakt]- noun 1. Something known to exist or to have happened 2. Something known to be true.

The fact is, the world, how we communicate, technology, and "writing" is evolving. Mike Wesch's video, "The Machine is Us(ing)Us" is nothing short of premeditated genius. Wesch uses the strategy at the beginning of the video of starting off with simply a pencil and paper, but in a modern and relevant way. You move from the simple pencil and paper text, to the explanation of digital text, and next thing you know, you've become captivated by the video. Wesch's start of simplicity does not overwhelm the viewer as well as broadens the audience. The majority of humanity has used a pencil and paper. It is almost like Wesch uses a funneling technique to capture as many as possible, just to funnel them into his idea that "The Machine is Us(ing) Us". You need the fundamental skills of reading to view this "text", and although the music flows well with the video and text it is not essential. Wesch has an opinion about technology and the Internet ("The Machine") is using us, yet we are the machine. He guides the viewer towards the idea gently. He persuades you through video, music, text, and pictures to not only enjoy his perspective and opinion, but agree with it as well.