ITZEL ORTEGA MENDEZ

I really like this consideration of the possibilities and limits of Emoji as a language form. It’s interesting to think about how smartphone apps such as Bitmoji or features like GIFs contribute to this discussion. It seems we always find newer and trendier ways to communicate on our devices. I appreciate your point that these options can “enrich written communication.”

I really wish we had the option to use emojis in our replies here 🙂

Nice article! I wonder if the communicative ambiguity in emoji’s that Prof. Frenz-Belkin isn’t advantageous in many situations. I also wonder if it has poetic potential, such as a wordless poem comprised entirely of emojis.

Thank you for this thought-provoking essay on the possibilities and limits of viewing Emoji as a language. To some degree, I find I use emojis more like punctuation marks. By inserting them at the conclusion of a sentence, I tend to use them to express excitement (like I would an exclamation point) or confusion (like I would a question mark).

As smartphone technology continues to advance, it’s interesting to consider how apps like Bitmoji or features like GIFs apply to or extend this conversation about Emoji and language.

Trying to write a “text” in Emoji sounds like a neat diversion. And I could see “reading” Emoji texts would be an interesting challenge. As someone who likes puzzles, this appeals to me. I wonder if it could be used in a classroom situation…

I was greatly impressed by the thoughtful exploration of the possibilities and limitations of the use of emojis. I, having taught ESL courses, see the possibilities of utilizing images; however, I also am aware of the possibilities for misunderstandings, which could in fact be opportunities for further learning. In learning English a particularly challenging unit is idiomatic expressions. Patricia points out that an emoji can mean different things across cultures. In these days of “cultural competency” she gives us much to consider.

Hi Linda and Sarah,

I read your article and found it very enlightening. Your focus on critical reading is really applicable to our student needs and your method of addressing this issue is quite innovative. I do agree with your argument that critical thinking skills are those that are garnered over the learning experience in sometimes non-obvious ways, and your approach does well to make them obvious. I think the Lib guide can be useful in different subject areas. I myself use some features in my own research based courses, but I do think creating a Lib guide resource could be more useful for students to access. Looking at the resource, I particularly like the layout of the assignment, the critical reading prompts, the turning point exercise and evaluation rubric. I find that students need to know how any work is being evaluated. Thanks for the great ideas!

Nice article, Linda and Sarah!

At the risk of sounding like a library PSA, librarians are a good resource not only for students but also for faculty. So much of how I teach research in my own classes is adapted from lessons and concepts I’ve learned from having librarians visit my classes over the years.

Thank you to Prof. Miles and Prof. Church for sharing your experiences. I too have been finding it necessary to add further scaffolding to my assignments. It sometimes feels more intuitive to address writing skills because the writing process is more visible than the reading process. The WAC philosophy is so helpful because it integrates reading and writing. In addition to assigning more low-stakes writing in the classroom to help students process their reading, I am spending more time explaining annotation skills.

I thank you for your reflections, and I look forward to adapting the online guide that Prof. Miles created.