Would this work as a freshman year frame

We've begun the senior project, and we're finding out so many things about what kids need to prepare them to be successful. Our freshman course needs work...could this sort of thing form a springboard to get those skills started??

A seminar course for the purpose of developing academic “muscle,” information literacy proficiency and digital citizenship

Personal identity as learners/scholars
Articulate a statement of purpose for the classroom and for individual
Select an area of personal interest over which the rest of the course will be laid.
Process is first area of focus. Read several articles and excerpts and discuss how processes work.
Work through the digital toolbox
• Library catalogs, tagging and electronic books – read at least one full length book on selected topic. Use available methods to tag, annotate, take notes, mark passages. Introduce and reinforce content reading strategies. Introduce and apply citation of books. Begin to keep an annotated bibliography in MLA format. Use appropriate digital tools to assist this process.

• Reflective writing will be part of each section. Select appropriate tools for this purpose – could use Word, OneNote, a blog, a class wiki, etc.

• Online databases will be explored next. Searching, annotating, using features of the databases will be explored. Again, reflection, new information, connections, etc. should be noted and written about. Close reading for bias, missing information and spin should be part of this section as well.

• Other online sources will also be addressed. Advanced searching in Google, critical use of Wikipedia, building a link library and personal web portal will be addressed. Diigo will be used, along with Delicious to create an annotated collection of links related to the topic being explored. Reflections will move to a blog at this point, so that sharing and effective commenting will be able to be addressed.

• Digital tools for sharing acquired knowledge will form the next focus of the seminar. Decisions will have to be made about how to share what’s been learned, and how to answer questions that have been raised by the reading and listening the students have done thus far on their area of interest. Tools for digital storytelling and other online methods of sharing knowledge will be explored. The ethical use of information, images, music and the creation and sharing of those things with the larger world will be discussed and acted upon.

The seminar culminates in a public exhibition of the work that has been done over the course of the semester. (A thoughtful point is made by Dean Shareski about the stages of sharing academic work) Attendees will be encouraged not only to listen to and watch presentations, but to ask questions and engage students In dialogue and debate about their work.
A final reflection about the experience will be the last component of the class. It will include a revised statement of purpose for the individual as learner/scholar.