Establishing the Need of Sandbox Pedagogy

By
Jonathan Lashley

a Master’s thesis proposal

EXT.CLEMSON/INTERNET.DAY
Interview millennial students as they answer the following
question via face-to-face, twitter, chatroulette and video
chat.

J. LASHLEY
“What does your regular online
experience look like?”
RANDOM INTERVIEWEES
*responses about the
software/hardware they use, why
they access the Internet how
frequently, and when/where.

INT/EXT.INTERNET HOTSPOTS.DAY
Cycle through footage of millennial-age people as they use
internet ready devices.
JL VOICE OVER
“Today’s millennial generation
exhibits strong fluency in digital
communication. Via day-to-day
participation in online publishing
and networking, these individuals
share knowledge and values in ways
that well transcend the cultural
and geographical limitations of the
past. But how do these resources
influence their professional or
educational writing?

EXT.CLEMSON/INTERNET.DAY
Interview millennial students as they answer the following
question via face-to-face, twitter, chatroulette and video
chat.
JONATHAN LASHLEY
* OFF CAMERA: "How do these online
practices influence your written
and oral communication at work
and/or school?"
RANDOM INTERVIEWEES
*responses regarding how their
digital practices are useful to
work and school (show the gap in
translating between work and play)
 2.

EXT.CLEMSON.DAY
Footage of Jonathan Lashley speaking near Tillman, for
iconic shot of Clemson (AKA higher education).
JONATHAN LASHLEY
“The disconnect that college
students find between outside
education and formal application is
not a new problem.”

INT.CLEMSON.DAY
Footage of various information technologies (hardware,
headlines, publishing sites) being placed on a desk during
voiceover about how composition pedagogy in particular may
adopt topics and tech but does not emphasizing play.
JL VOICEOVER
“Over the last few decades,
composition pedagogy in particular
has sought to defuse the ‘for
school only’ mindsets that
self-censor students from
critically expressing themselves in
class. The value of certain social
topics and technologies that these
educators introduce to classrooms
does not last long however, when
modern students use and evaluate
similar or the same artifacts and
expressions on a daily basis.
Educators may seek to develop the
analytical skills of students,
but ongoing trends in composition
pedagogy seem aloof to how
critically students communicate and
compose outside of class."

INT.CLEMSON.DAY
Document circuit bending (appropriation processes brought
forth by electracy, literacy, and information resources).

JL VOICEOVER
"Evan is a circuit bender.
Recycling the discarded toys and
electronics of others, he modifies
them into musical instruments."

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

EVAN HOLBERT
*intersperse reflective thoughts
about why he does what he does, and
how it’s valuable.

EXT.CLEMSON.DAY
Document iPhone as an information/education resource.
JL VOICEOVER
"Shenise is an iPhone user. It
serves as her primary digital means
in connecting to the internet and
others."
SHENISE TURMAN
*intersperse reflective thoughts
about why she does what she does,
and how it’s valuable.

INT/EXT.CLEMSON.DAY

Run montage of documentary footage.

JL VOICEOVER
"Beyond exhibiting digitally
literate behavior that empowers
their day-to-day experiences, Evan
and Shenise share another key
similarity: both chose to withdraw
from a higher education. As it
stands, millennials like Evan and
Shenise find a far more dynamic
experience and forum outside of the
classroom. By playing with the
resources provided by modern
technology, they have constructed
their own environment in which to
explore the values, identities, and
expressions of the world."

EXT.CLEMSON.DAY

Jonathan Lashley sitting in sand.

JONATHAN LASHLEY
"If the composition classroom is to
remain relevant as an environment
for developing critical thinking
skills, then this sort of ’sandbox’
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

JONATHAN LASHLEY (cont’d)

play with reality must be channeled
and valued by educators. I propose
that by studying the rhetorical and
cultural significance of student
expressions outside of class,
pedagogical practices may be
devised that better stimulate and
develop the modern literacies of
millennial students-A ’sandbox
pedagogy’ may be created."