University of Kentucky
English
Reproduced with permission from NeXT Computer, Inc.
A Reference Guide to NeXT in Higher Education, Fall 1992
ยช 1992 NeXT Computer, Inc
Learning business writing skills with NeXT computers
In the semester-long Business Writing course at the University of Kentucky, Coordinator for Computers in Composition Nancy Foreman not only wants her students to develop strong business writing skills-she wants them to become proficient NeXT computer users, too.
This academic year, Foreman made the switch from teaching with a Primos operating system to NeXT computers. Working from the 22-machine cluster in the university library's NeXT lab, students prepare marketing presentations and corporate policy briefs and write correspondence, proposals, and peer reviews using WriteNow and Lotus Improv (for generating graphs and charts). They also use NeXTmail to communicate about assignments with one another as well as with Foreman.
"For so long, in English and humanities classes, we've used computers solely as word processing tools," says Foreman. "NeXT's multitasking environment allows us so many other options. With NeXT, students are able to interchange applications easily-from writing with WriteNow to creating charts and graphs with Lotus Improv-and then meld a variety of applications into a single document. Thanks to NeXT, business students are now able to create documents that are as professional as those they'll need to create in an actual business environment."
Foreman adds that in Business Writing, students in classes that use NeXT machines have higher grades than those in classes that still use the old systems. She says that students are "now signing up intentionally for the NeXT-based classes."
"I think students are doing better with the NeXT machines because they're so much easier to use," she says. "Because NeXT machines have freed students from dealing with the mechanical aspects of getting the computer to do what they want it to do, they have more time to concentrate on their writing. They can devote more time to developing the information that goes into the document rather than worrying about how to make the document look good."
Next fall, Foreman will use NeXT machines to teach Writing: An Accelerated Course. In the course-which will be linked with the Geography Department's Cities of the World course-students will use their geography text and a collection of selected readings as springboards for class discussions and for developing major writing assignments.
"Reading, thinking, and writing in both sections will allow students to develop connections between seemingly disparate courses," says Foreman.
Foreman outlined the content for the NeXT-based application and then turned the information over to Wayne Beech, senior scientific analyst/programmer at the university, to create the actual application using Interface Builder. Beech's application allows students to locate hemispheres, continents, countries, and cities and to obtain key information about each as they study and write.
In the course, students will also use NeXTmail to communicate more frequently with their instructor about assignments, Lotus Improv to develop bar and line graphs and pie charts and WriteNow to bring applications together and produce completed assignments.
"I feel that students will be able to take their knowledge of NeXT computers and apply it not only in my classes but in all of their other classes as well," says Foreman. "Students seem to be learning more and responding better with the NeXT machines. In fact, some of my students plan to buy NeXT machines for their personal use."
For more information, please contact:
Nancy Foreman
Coordinator for Computers in Composition
University of Kentucky
1215 Patterson Office Tower
Lexington, KY 40506
(606) 257-5246
nancy@wylie.mik.uky.edu