As a future educator, I found Doug Eyman’s Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) section in “Digital Rhetoric: Theory, Method, Practice” incredibly eye-opening. In the modern world, ‘the classroom’ doesn’t necessarily mean the physical, in-person place for learning anymore- it can be completely virtual now, offering students an entirely new way to learn and connect with lessons. To offer you a more tangible idea of what I mean when I say classrooms can now be virtual, let’s consider my class website (you should definitely check it out!). Along with this, my previous blog on code in the classroom may also be helpful!
Teaching Beyond the Curriculum
One of the main points that Eyman communicates is that digital environments and interfaces are rhetorical, as they shape how users navigate, respond, and engage with the space and the information presented in it. So, in the world of education, every digital learning space that a teacher builds or utilizes is a rhetorical interface for students. Not only does this emphasize the fact that educators are not simply teaching the required curriculum, but they are also influencing the way students learn through designing digital experiences for them.
A Note for Educators
Teaching is not an easy job, but if we all make a conscious effort to understand digital rhetoric, we as teachers can make more informed decisions about how we design digital instruction and engage our students in thinking critically about the digital tools in the classroom. By doing this, we are helping ourselves to become more empowered educators who create accessible student-centered learning environments that connect our students to lessons on a more meaningful level.
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