Using DailyChatter to enhance engagement in a freshman composition class

When the AUN promoted DailyChatter, I identified a learning resource to enhance reading, writing and creativity skills. Students subscribed to the digital newsletter, and then over 4 weeks they selected ten stories (from 3 sections) to respond to through activities that demonstrated engagement with text, identification of the main idea, critical thinking, summarization, relatability and paragraph development. Response options ranged from short essays, poetry, and video commentaries, to songs, artwork and photo diaries. The main takeaway is how the students embraced this exercise to express themselves in a variety of exciting ways while meeting expectations for the class assignment.