Hi, folks. Um...
for one thing, I suppose it's good to be able to see me as a human--I am. Uh, what I wanted to really talk 
about today is the paradigm assignment...um.. I apologize that
it seemed so complicated and I think part of the reason is that it's spread out over
seven weeks actually and
...you can only see one week at a time
so what I've done--and I will post this--what I have done is I've taken that piece, the paradigm assignment piece out of each week
and put it together in one document so that, so that, you'll be able to see how it unfolds. Uh, yes Collaborate is...
...is a test to learn to use it and I'm still learning. Uh...but we will get through this together and so the first thing I want to do is
...try to relieve some anxiety about this because in the end, it should be fine.
In addition to posting what's going to happen each week I'm going to sort of go over that right now.
...And then....when I finish, if you have any specific questions you can e-mail me about it. I hope that will work for you so let's get started.
Obviously the Paradigm Assignment is an important assignment because it's one of two major assignments, this assignment and  
assignment two which comes later in the semester and we're not gonna deal with here.
The paradigm assignment is often difficult to get started on. In fact I tell students 
when I do Face to Face [classes] that that really the hardest part
is making a couple of initial decisions and what we've tried to do is to space this out so it doesn't 
hit you all at once but unfortunately, since you can see that spacing....
uh...you don't know, basically, what the hell is going on. Okay?  So let me...let me try to do that. Um...week one....let's just back up a little bit
What we needed you to do on week one was to simply
go to...to that week's lesson and to the paradigm project presentation groups. And some of you have already done this...and some are having 
difficulty with it but basically, if you follow the instructions
Uh...and go to a group that--if it has room in it and you want to join it, then you simply add yourself. Um... it will only take 5 so once you get to five...
You'll need....if there are already 5 folks in it, you'll need to choose another group...that..that isn't full yet. So...
once you signed up
into a group
...we'll...we'll...
to a look
at week 2 which is
trying to use
...um...[thinking]
What am I trying to say here? What we were hoping...
would happen is that you would...when the groups were organized...and you'll stay in that group throughout this project and...
once you're in that group
then the next thing that you do which is week 2 which is this week was...is to go to your group and
if you look down below on the assignment, once you open it, 
you'll see there are several options and one of those is a WIKI. So each group...and I tried to explain this... 
obviously not very well---in an announcement yesterday but...
but if the WIKI doesn't exist when you go to try to post to it then hit in the upper, 
left-hand corner...Create WIKI. 
Once anyone in the group has done that,
everyone can put their ideas in it....into it. And its the general idea of a WIKI is that...so you can see 
what other people are thinking about. In this case, we are asking you to simply list a couple of ways
using Collaborate, which is a video conferencing ...much like this except two-way... uh...
what would be the best way to make the points  you need to make and I'll get to those points in a minute...
....using technology, in essence, and multimedia and so that could be...I've had folks do music, do ah...
...little videos that they've developed, skits that they've taped. PowerPoints, short video clips, lots of folks use examples.... 
out of commercial advertisements to show the difference between
the dimension of the traditional and dimension of the alternative paradigm that you've chosen in your group. Each group will choose three of the 
five dimensions. Now this week you should be learning about what a paradigm is; that there are two types in this conceptual framework
and one is traditional--has 5 dimensions one is alternative--has 5 dimensions and they kind of match, they're not totally opposite of each other.  
But they're, but, they're partnered. So what we're asking you, as a group to do is, to make a decision on the media....
...first, that you want to use and you do that by everybody sort of throwing their ideas into the WIKI and...
....and then taking a look at those and having a group conversation. Either e-mail....Skype.... however you want to do it. [coughs]
so that....excuse me...so that you can make a decision on the type of media...okay...that's the first thing. The 2nd thing that you need to do  
through that same WIKI process is to make some suggestions for which of the three dimensions
of the Paradigm Assignment that you might use and um...let's see...I have the assignment here fortunately. And those dimensions are for 
example, you might choose, your group might choose to illustrate....
....your understanding...and the differences between traditional and alternative paradigms by comparing
masculinity or patriarchy and feminism. 
...or whiteness and diversity or a scientific approach--positivist approach or an interpretive, more  subjective qualitative approach to 
understanding and gaining knowledge and valuing knowledge. Okay? So, so once you get a handle on what the pieces of the paradigms are...
and you put your three ideas individually for which for three
that you're going to use into the WIKI and other folks will do that.
You'll...you'll communicate with each other. You'll communicate, as I said, in any way you want and...
then decide on which three. Okay? Once you've done that, you're well on your way because you have, you know, what you're gonna use to 
communicate it to show that we understand paradigm and we understand the difference between three dimensions of each of those...
of each of the 2 types of paradigms. Okay? And I think one of the things, too, thats confusing people is that the assignment says construct a 
model. Okay? That model, it simply means that you could develop, for example, a 3D
....uh... model of what you believe shows the differences between those two paradigms and 
you could, when we do Collaborate you can walk me through it. 
Okay? But that's not absolutely necessary. Most people choose to....to...
to develop examples, really...of each dimension-- traditional and alternative through.... 
media, popular media, video clips as I said....music...photographs....um....
... skits....Again, I know that I'm repeating myself but I'm trying to be clear here. Okay? Uh, so the next few weeks then
will be spent on working through that. 
And, I'm not going to go through every element of what I'm gonna post because we're really trying to deal with week two and three here. Okay?
So what I want to do here is get you through week 2
which is
to communicate through the WIKI;
to post two possible media that you think might work, and three dimensions of each paradigm that you, as an individual, would like
to...to show in contrasts...compare and contrast. Okay? Then the group has to decide together
and needs to come to agreement on the three that the group will decide. And usually when people start posting...individuals start posting,  
you'll see a good bit of overlap among your other group members so it is not that difficult
usually to choose the three because they kinda, come out. You'll see more than one person choosing the same two dimensions, for example. 
So...so that's all we need to do this week. Uh....next week....next week I think....
is...is going to be very important and
when it...when it goes up all we're gonna do next week
is learn to use Collaborate and the technology that's available to help you do the presentation.
Okay? So let's not panic yet about "how the hell do we do this?" I mean, I understand the confusion 
because it's not typical assignment. It's a...it asks you to use 
....something other than pencil and paper to communicate your ideas...preferably in a way that the other students in the class will...will gain 
understanding, deeper understanding of the dimensions you're talking about. 
When we do that you'll have 30 minutes it says 20 minutes in the paper but we actually give you 30 minutes to do the final presentation and that's 
done in week 7. Okay? So we have several weeks to get ready for this. So...so next week we'll mess with Collaborate some...
We'll....uh...look at some other ways that that you can creatively do this assignment.
And I think we'll be on the road then. Uh...and then your group assignments--and it is a group grade. 
Uh, your group assignment then, is done by your group whenever y'all can get together.
Okay?  And....
...you know, I'll be glad to respond to questions
and Elaine Terrell, who is our instructional designer for the course also knows this stuff and I go to her a lot and so, 
if you send me a question and I can't answer it, you'll notice in individual emails, I always cc Elaine.
Okay? So I'm going to look at this video and see if it makes any sense at all and if it does, I'll post it. And if it doesn't, I'll try it again! Okay? So at the 
end, I'm trying to give you two tools. One is my explanation through this video and the other
is...
a compilation of each week's activity related to the assignment up to the point that we actually present the assignments. And we'll schedule
those at a number of different times so that you can find one that will work for your group. 
Okay? 
Thank you. And, I hope this helps. And maybe it's the beginning of something if it...if this is helpful to you....
I'll try to do more these around content instead of just the assignment. Okay? Thanks a lot!
