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Browsing by Author "Johnson, Devon V."

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Experiential Learning in Agriculture Education
    Johnson, Devon V. (Virginia Tech, 2016-05-02)
    Many students find it difficult to comprehend information and retain knowledge from regular classroom instruction alone. In addition, many students cannot remain focused on a certain task for an entire class period. By incorporating experiential learning activities into the lesson plans, it is easier for students to recognize concepts being taught and remain focused longer by switching class activities from regular instruction to experiential learning. Using the work of David Kolb as the underlying foundation, it was determined that experiential learning is beneficial in agriculture education. The Experiential Learning Theory was used as the framework for this project to guide activities for increasing understanding of the content in Veterinary Science.
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    A Visual Rhetorical Analysis of the Hillbilly Stereotype
    Johnson, Devon V. (Virginia Tech, 2017-04-21)
    This study explores the concept of visual argument as it applies to the archetypal evolution of the hillbilly stereotype. Building on David Birdsell and Leo Groarke's theory of the archetype as a common element of visual argument, this study focuses on the visual archetypal construction of the rural hillbilly in twentieth-century mass media and in twenty first century internet memes, and it makes a case for the argumentative components of the archetype. Beginning with an analysis of early twentieth-century postcards, this study establishes the foundational elements of the hillbilly archetype as a symptom of class-based prejudice and explores how these key elements are visible in online memes, with particular attention to the genre of 'Trump Voter' memes that emerged as a response to the 2016 United States presidential campaign. These key archetypal elements compose a visual argument in favor of the idea of a degenerate and inferior rural America and represent a particularly dangerous rhetorical tool that can be mobilized to discount the concerns of rural people.
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    VTArtWorks White Paper
    Johnson, Devon V.; Ryu, Mi Hung (Zoey); Ogier, Andrea; Merkel, Evan; Leonard, Bob (Virginia Tech, 2016-08-29)
    VTArtWorks, an interdisciplinary team at Virginia Tech focused on serving the field of Community Cultural Development (CCD) through innovative web technology, began working together in the fall of 2015 thanks to a generous grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). From the fall of 2015 to the summer of 2016 the VTArtWorks team has performed original research with the eventual goal of informing development of an online communication platform for the field of CCD.