By David Hall, Gaming Pedagogy Coordinator
The Digital Literacy and Communications (DLC) Lab launched at the start of the 2018-2019 school year in a newly renovated space in Greenlaw 321, directed by Dr. Courtney Rivard. The DLC is a hub for pedagogical innovation and hands-on learning across media, housed in the English & Comparative Literature Department.
The DLC partners with faculty and graduate instructors to strive for innovative pedagogy by using digital technology to enhance learning objectives and connect to campus resources. This year, they hosted a series of Wednesday workshops in which instructors who partnered with key campus resources showcased their innovative and collaborative course assignments. The workshop leaders included faculty and graduate students from the English and Comparative Literature department along with representatives from campus organizations like the Ackland Museum of Art, Playmakers Theatre, Wilson Library, and the Media Resource Center.
Next year, the DLC will begin a special initiative on promoting playful pedagogies that incorporate games and gaming into teaching. As part of this initiative, the DLC has applied for grants to renovate a classroom in Greenlaw into a games-oriented learning space that would be called “the Greenlaw Gameroom.”
The DLC also provides digital resources for faculty and students to promote the use of digital media in the classroom. Two major projects they accomplished this year include the construction of a database of English 105 unit assignments to help writing instructors exchange teaching materials and began a pilot project to assess the use of e-portfolios in writing intensive courses.
Additionally, the lab provides students a space to experiment with digital storytelling by creating content for the department website and social media, such as regular posts on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. They have produced a number of promotional videos for the English 105 and summer school classes.
