Frequently Asked Questions about Daedalus

What is Daedalus?

Daedalus (also called DIWE, which stands for the Daedalus Integrated Writing Environment) is a computer program available to instructors throughout the University.  Its purpose is to stimulate student writing by integrating the critical thinking skills of the classroom with the writing process.  To this end, DIWE has modules that address the invention, composition, and revision stages of writing.  Instructors also use the program to enhance “traditional” classroom discussion in an environment that encourages student-to-student communication, critical thinking, and the precision of the written word in a discussion setting.

Why should I use Daedalus?

DIWE makes several important contributions to pedagogy:

It creates a collaborative learning setting where students can work in small groups and receive quick and detailed feedback from their peers and the instructor.

It creates an interactive classroom in which all students must participate.

It asks students to break the writing process into manageable steps, especially in the functions such as Invent, where students may refine their ideas for a paper topic or a thesis statement.

It adds the stability and carefulness of written discourse to the dynamic of classroom exchange.

It breaks up the routine for both student and instructor.

For more information on this topic, go to The Advantages to Using DIWE.

How do students respond to the program?

Students usually respond positively to the program, especially if it is made a regular part of the course (5-8 sessions per semester) and integrated into traditional classroom activity.  Instructors report that students often ask for transcripts of the Interchange sessions and that students have incorporated quotations from the Interchange sessions into their papers.  Also, shy or less vocal students often appreciate the opportunity to participate in an alternate format. 

Does DIWE ever fail to work as planned?

The newest version of the program (version 7) is fast and seemingly bug-free.  There have been no large-scale DIWE failures in the past two years.  Once in a while, a single student’s computer will shut down while running DIWE, but this type of problem does not seem to be any more frequent than while using other computer programs.  If your students are saving their Respond/Invent sequences frequently, you will not have anything to worry about.  If a single computer shuts down, the student can move to a new one, log in again, and proceed with the activity. 

How will I integrate what my students do in the DIWE lab into my regular class?

All Respond, Invent, Interchange, and Mail assignments are available for an instructor to print and bring to the conventional classrooms.  Many instructors like to begin the class discussion after a DIWE session by introducing a handout or all or some of the transcripts and using the handout to begin discussion or to review the previous material.  The transcripts can also be used as material for writing workshops—developing a thesis, compiling evidence, etc.  For more detailed information on this topic, please go to How to Integrate DIWE into Your Course.

Where is DIWE located and where can my students access it outside of class?

The central hub of DIWE use is in the Garland computer classroom.  This is where classes that use DIWE are usually held, although classes can be scheduled in the Stevenson 2200 lab, except when it is reserved for another class.  Students can access DIWE outside of class in Garland (either the classroom when not in class use or a second Garland lab), Stevenson 2200, or Branscomb.  You may want to make students aware of the hours of these labs if you are asking them to complete asynchronous activities.  There is a handout at Garland that lists all lab hours.  Instructors have two additional options for accessing DIWE: the two computers located within the English copy room and the computers in the Stevenson TA room all have DIWE.  DIWE is not online, and therefore it is not available on any computers that are not site-licensed.

Is there a manual?

Yes.  Student and Instructor Manuals, as well as an Idea Book, are all available.  Contact the Computer-Assisted Writing Coordinator  for manuals. 

Is DIWE difficult to use as an instructor?

No.  Most instructors find it surprisingly easy to use.  “Traditional” lesson plans and collaborative learning activities can often be adapted for use in DIWE.  DIWE also supports “cut and paste” functions from word processing programs and even email.  Training sessions are usually scheduled at the beginning of each semester and most instructors are able to begin programming their first DIWE lesson within one to two hours of training.

Do the students catch on quickly?

Absolutely.  The current generation of students has grown up using chat rooms and doing research on the Internet.  Long-time users of DIWE report that students seem to catch on more quickly each year.  You may want to plan fewer and shorter activities for your first DIWE session because you will be showing students the basics of the system.  Most students feel comfortable with the technology right away and many instructors are surprised to find that students log in by themselves and begin their DIWE activities with little or no assistance by the second lab session.

How can I start using DIWE?

It’s best to begin using DIWE at the beginning of the semester.  That way, you can indicate to your students which sessions will be lab sessions on the syllabus.  Also, it’s helpful to include a paragraph describing DIWE in your syllabus.  Feel free to use any of the information contained here on the DIWE web pages, such as the description of DIWE above.  Once you have decided to use DIWE, contact the Computer-Assisted Writing Coordinator or respond promptly to the coordinator’s email that goes out in the month before a new semester begins.  You will be asked to decide on several dates when you think you would like to use DIWE: 7-8 dates for a MWF class or 5-6 dates for a TR class.  Please have several alternative dates in mind, since the lab schedule can fill up quickly.  The coordinator will reserve the lab dates for you.  Watch for information on upcoming training sessions.