Introducing a New Educational Approach: The Border e-Model and Teaching Composition with

Open Source Software

Precursor to Techno CCS 200:

From 'Zines to Research Papers,Exercising the Right to Non-Cartesian Logic

Long-term Goal

Enhancing student learning in the areas of digital literacy and critical thinking.

Bringing a deeper understanding of ontology in two contexts: in a philosophical sense, in relation to computer ontology, the

structuring of information, particularly on the Internet.

Student Needs and the Need for Change

in the Teaching of Writing Students use the Internet, cell phones, Ipods,

games. They live in myspace.com. A writing class in 2005 needs to build on the skills

students bring to the classroom. First generation Latina/o students, especially

female students, need to “delete the border” and to cross the digital divide.

Female students enjoy hands-on experience with technology: screwdrivers and motherboards.

Students need a supportive environment in which to consider the ethical questions surrounding computing, including the question of downloading of “illegal” software.

Fulfilling Student Needs in

Ethnic Studies DepartmentsThe Border e-Model and its Implementation

in Lower Division Writing Courses:

encourages Latina/o students to discover their own backgrounds, through ethnic cybercommunity-building, and their right to self-expression. All students are encouraged to study their own ethnicities, mixed ancestry cultures and the interactions of various ethnic groups.

exposes students to both proprietary and non-proprietary software.

Cost Analysis

The financial advantage to students of using OpenOffice is that it is free.

The quality of products currently used by most students is lower than that of readily available open source alternatives.

Strengths and Advantages

Special features of Techno CCS 200● 4 Day Immersion Program in which

students are exposed to history of computing, operating systems, Internet technologies, open source and proprietary software, computer security, hacking/cracking and computer ethics.

● Community-building activities including building a Sierpinski gasket and making 'zines.

Next Steps of Action

Experience gathered in teaching Summer Session CCS 335, which included aforementioned activities, will be used in teaching Techno CCS 200 in Fall 2005.

Experience gathered in attempting to collaborate with colleagues on an NSF grant will be used in on-going fundraising in order to set up the optimum conditions for class: an open source laboratory (OpenOffice).