Madeleine Clark Wallace Library

Domain of One's Own

Would students in your course benefit from having their own web space to collaborate, blog, or host content? A Domain of One's Own provides a simplified process for students to take control of their named domain and design and control their digital identity. Students can use their domains for class assignments, reflection and metacognitive exercises, and portfolios of their work. 

What is Domain of One's Own (DoOO)? Domain of One's Own is based on the philosophy that students should have a digital space of their own where they can acquire the essential 21st Century digital skills and understandings that employers are looking for. It provides domains and hosted web space where you can install a variety of applications, like Wordpress. DoOO promotes digital literacy, reflective engagement, and connected learning. Many schools have adopted DoOO—University of Colorado Boulder and Muhlenberg College are two great examples.

Why would you need Domain of One's Own? First developed at Mary Washington University, DoOO has grown as a movement that supports digital identify creation and data ownership, and allows for the publishing, curating, and sharing of work online. DoOO supports innovative digital scholarship assignments that can increase student engagement and achieve your course objectives. DoOO is also a excellent platform for open pedagogy, facilitating renewable assignments and real-world application of critical and creative thinking skills and course content.    

How are faculty using Domain of One's Own? DoOO can be utilized for course blogging, building student websites, creating galleries or portfolios of work. Students can build individual websites, or collaborate on faculty created websites as authors.

Possible Learning Opportunities

  • Explore aspects digital identity
    • Frame availability of personal information online
    • Discuss user acknowledgements and persistence of personal information in online spaces
  • Collaboration
    • Promote visibility of stages of group projects
  • Create a portfolio on an open web platform
    • Provide transparent and accessible sample of skills and abilities
    • Opportunity to reflect on Wheaton experience as a whole
    • Experience with self-marketing and advocacy
    • Artifact to share with graduate schools/potential employers
  • Experience with a content management system
    • Organizing and presenting information to an audience
    • Develop confidence writing and designing for a public audience
    • Gain familiarity with copyright issues in a digital space
  • Open pedagogy
    • Create renewable assignments with last impact
    • Students to engage with materials through multiple versions
    • Position students as creators of content

Getting Started

*Currently, DoOO accounts are mediated by R&I and provided only to those individuals connected with an approved project. Identify your project or faculty connection when you fill out the request form, and you will receive an email when your account is approved.

1. Domain of One's Own is hosted at the institution level - Wheaton College Domains

2. Once registered, choose a domain name to be logged into cPanel, which is a web-based hosting control panel. 

3. From cPanel, various applications can be installed on the domain, although Wordpress is recommended for beginners. Hand-coded sites can also be hosted here.

4. Add subdomains and install different applications at each domain - this provides flexibility for students with more experience in website creation.

 

Some content adopted from The USNH Technology Cookbook