Let the journey begin...

The diagnostics have been written, the goals have been stated -- I'm beginning to see this semester more clearly now. I realize now that I have two distinct groups of students this semester, which hopefully will yield some interesting comparisons. My online students are very diverse in their interests, causes, and life circumstances. They see their personal and civic empowerment coming from an array of places, from Youtube to Jesus. Their causes are national and even global causes, citing desires to change tolerance, gun control, violent media, government corruption. However, they all see mostly the same hinderances: money and time.

My basic writing students are located in a satellite campus of Delta College in an economically depressed area of Saginaw. They are united in same cause -- to make Saginaw a safer community with more positive activities and employment. When asked about what they can do, most state that they can use their voices to demand change. A significant number of students are studying criminal justice. They are a united community.

The question is what role can social media or digital skills play into these students making a change? In the first group, social media seems a necessity. They are students who have no common community in the class -- they must find community elsewhere. The issues they are exploring require national attention and action; hence, they need to connect with people throughout the country.

My basic writing students see civic action in a more direct manner, volunteering at their church, speaking out to others in their community, etc. What role can online tools/sites play? I no longer see social media as a key player in this class, as they have community. What I see being a key issue is creating a public voice and awareness. For this, I believe a website with a collection of digital stories and essays will be key.

What I see emerging is two different approaches to advocacy based on two different rhetorical situations.