Getting Ready for #Walkmyworld 2016. Will You be Joining Us?
Writing creates realities and we would rather shape ours than be bent by someone else’s desires. So join us for #walkmyworld.
This year we will probably explore our own identities through digital storytelling. The ten learning events will also allow us to venture into how malleable meaning making can be through different modes.
We will explore sounds, images, words, sculptures, and memories.
What is #walkmyworld?
Walkmyworld is an annual social media gathering that pushes the boundaries of what counts as texts. It began as an exploration in poetry and technology. In 2009 Sue Ringler-Pet, Ian O’Byrne, and I developed “Drop a Mouse in Poetry” at the annual National Copuncil of Teachers of English and a session on “Internet images, newfangled negotiations, and multimodal metaphors: Reducing fear and loathing in poetry classrooms” presented at the Literacy Research Association conference.
These two events acted as a catalyst for the #walkmyworld project. For the next five years we explored a different poet laurette through a a technology lens. Then in 2014 we connected Robert Hass, images, and social media. We brought on classroom teachers from other content areas. What we realized was #walkmyworld was a mentor text scaffolding people into the world of digital identities.
In 2015 we expanded #walkmyworld beyond its poetic roots. We decided to focus on this idea of documenting shifting identities in a multimodal world. We brought on a ton of people and hundreds stop by to join us. Close to fifty submitted final portfolios. In fact we had six year olds from Australia join doctoral candiates from Georgia. All in all we had people from six continents join #walkmyworld.
Many still use poetry throughout the gathering but no verse is required.
Just tell your story.
What do you have to do for #walkmyworld?
Play with meaning. Explore who you are. That is the only requirement. We publish ten learning events. Usually one per week. Not everyone completes all ten events. In fact what makes #walkmyworld unique is its forkability. There is a global hub (social media) and then local nodes. These are on the ground classroom teachers who get involved in the project. We have many pre-service teachers, 5th grade classrooms, Kindergraten classrooms. high schools, and graduate students.
All we ask you to do is share a little about you.
What is the goal for the 2016 Walkmyworld?
Not sure yet. We constantly iterate on the planning. Right now we are leaning toward some element of digital storytelling, auto-biography, and different modes. Basically a transmedia remix of you.
Can anyone be involved in #walkmyworld?
Sure. You do not have to be enrolled in a class. There are many people who join each year simply because they love pushing the boundaries of what counts for text.
How do you join #walkmyworld?
Just watch the #walkmyworld hastag on social media channels for more information. We are moving away from Google Sites (finally) and rebuilding the hub at walkmy.world. We usually get started late Jan early Feb, but we have people start whenever they want.
We have also heard from some people that just using social media like Twitter is not inclusive to those with a strong affinity for privacy and data ownership. So this year we are going to add a “stream.” This will be a place to share what you make. You can choose whether to keep it private to the group or share with the world. Syndication to social media channels will be built right in.
Everyone will also need their own place to publish on the web.
I don’t have a blog and limited technical skills
That is great. We are glad you want to learn. The first step in shaping your identity is owning where you publish online. We will help get you set up with your first blog or website. In fact this year we will add a Week Zero with small group and 1:1 help to get you started. We encourage any local nodes to offer Week Zero design studio time for face to face help in getting started.
What happens to my data?
#Walkmyworld is an open research project but we take your privacy seriously. You can read last year’s privacy policy. This years will not be that different.
We do encourage you to document what you do in the open and to learn out loud. This collective knowledge fuels gatherings like #walkmyworld
Originally published at walkmyworld2016.jgregorymcverry.com on January 3, 2016.
