Chapter 6. Comprehensive Composition

Students have been able to use the Internet as a resource for many years. Now they can also create websites of interest to students in many locations. Because website browsers are such a diverse group, it is more important than ever that boys and girls use correct grammar and syntax in their presentations. They will want to put clear and interesting video and pictures on their sites. To do this, students must put great care into their productions using timing, automation and theatrics to illustrate the material that they are presenting.

Digital convergence requires a common standard. It allows the composition, calculations and communication to be merged or synthesized into higher level forms and designs. Sites using virtual reality, electronic sensors, remote control and computer programming are already found.

The first basic construction is video composition. It is built on desktop publishing. Webpage publishing goes far beyond just the still image. It has been used since 1994 and is therefore quite new. Sometimes we use the expression"multimedia" to stand for this more sophisicated type of computer presentation. Boards of Education across the country are encouraging students to broaden their use of computer technology. It is very likely that the district that employs new teachers will require them to help their students integrate these skills into their basic computer use.

Learning how to put a video onto a website will take some planning, reading and improved writing so that the small presentation will flow along with the composition the student will include. This merger of video and text documents in the same display is totally unprecedented. It attracts and holds attention and helps the person watching retain the content much better. A new teacher may be the one to bring the technical expertise into a school and lead her class in more creative directions with their Computer Technology grade requirements. A teacher who can show both her class and other teachers how to expand their techniques holds a respected position in the school. The older analog equipment may be retired when she gets a grant for new digital equipment. These will produce better and faster videos and help the students achieve more professional results in their computer lab efforts.