As a capstone to the course, you will create a Personal Learning Document that reflects critically on what you have learned about technologies of the future—and yourself—over the past three months. Functionally, this is an essay, and should involve research and reflection, as well as an argument for the amount of intellectual effort you invested in this course. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate your creative understanding of new concepts and how they intersect with your own future academic, professional and personal goals. In other words: How have you learned to prepare for the future ahead of you?

We will  discuss what this PLD might look like over the term, but it should contain a few key elements:

Learning Goals

What did you hope to learn from the course? What did you arrive knowing already and where did your interests lie?

Learning Process

What were the stages of learning you moved through via the various assignments, readings, guest speakers, and class discussions? Where did you struggle and how did you overcome  challenges? What were your moments of revelation and clarity?

Conclusions

What specifically did you learn most about the future of our technologically mediated society?  Where do you think our society (or one element of it) is heading? How should we “future-proof” ourselves for these changes? How has your understanding about specific themes changed? Don’t be afraid to be opinionated or controversial—just back up your ideas with examples and references.

Personal Learning Network

An annotated bibliography (one page) of new resources and experts you discovered that you will continue to consult to expand your knowledge.

Format

This document can take the form of a traditional paper (1,500 words), but you are also encouraged to use an alternative medium as well—a website (using the OAC perhaps), an audio podcast, a narrated PowerPoint, a video blog.

Evaluation

This Personal Learning Document is worth 25% and will be evaluated on intellectual depth, critical reflection, original ideas, use of course concepts, organization and clarity, research and bibliographic references, and creativity.