Welcome to the Digital Communication Project at Tulane University

This project encompasses two parallel threads of digital interaction.  On the one hand Digital Discourse covers new approaches to standard questions of presentation and delivery in an academic setting.  While on the other hand, Digital Narrative offers new ways of sharing the personal stories that build both university and local community.  Both projects use the same technologies to address different pedagogical needs.

Click here to view the
movie 13 Blocks of
Freret a student project
from TR Johnson's
ENLS 406 in
Spring 2009

Digital Discourse in the Composition Classroom

As part of the pilot on this program, we have been working with the Composition Program to create assignments that focus on the traditional rhetorical practice of delivery in addition to the standard composing and critical thinking techniques commonly taught in these classes.  The first assignment asked student to do a visual analysis of Realism.  

The complete assignment can be found here. 

The resulting student video will be posted on YouTube soon.

Digital Narrative

The Digital Narrative project is an extension of several of the ideas and methods developed by the Center for Digital Storytelling.  These methods encourage individuals to work in small groups and communities to help one another tell stories that are significant to them.  The individual starts with a script of the tale and some related images, though this process he or she develops a video performance of the story that is a result of the intersection of the individual's own ideas and the feedback of the group.

Digital Narrative in the TIDES Classroom

In the Fall semester of 2008 a small group of Tulane Interdisciplinary Experience Seminar students were asked to trace their path to Tulane from their home towns.  TIDES classes are only open to incoming freshmen and are meant to help smooth the transition into college life.  

The Digital Narrative assignment given was as follows:

"From Homeroom to Dorm Room"

Tell a digital story tracing the journey from your high school life to your arrival at Tulane using visuals from both environments.  Your story should explore the transitions it was necessary for you to make in order to acclimate from one environment to the other.  What has been difficult?  What has been exciting?  Where do you go from here?

The results of this assignment will be posted soon.

Digital Narrative at the Innovative Learning Center

In February 2008 the staff of the ilc together with some other faculty and staff from the university went through a three day workshop with the Center for Digital Storytelling to produce our first round of stories.  The stories were varied but many had to do with the aftermath of Katrina and its effect on our lives.  This was the workshop that has led to our current experimentation with the technologies of Digital Communication.

You can see our early videos here.

Digital Discourse

For this part of the project we have developed specific assignments in conjunction with faculty from different departments who are interested in having their students attempt to visually express the concepts and practices which they are in the process of mastering.  Through the use of Final Cut Express or Sony Vegas Studio, the images and texts the students create come to life as Digital Discourse.  These projects allow what has traditionally been a restricted discourse between student and professor to be open to comment, examination and development.