On-line teaching tip...

... I have one -- I think :).

If at all possible, group sections into one bigger class. That way you have a smaller number of courses to manage...

Do you have any tips for me?

In particular, any ideas about how to write reading quizzes?

A big weekend....

...last year, for a different reason. This would be my first of many 'chemo weekends'. I can see why people call themselves 'cancer survivors' -- I don't do that, at least not so far -- because I don't want that to be my identity.... but, when it's happening to you, it's easy to fall into the patient role.

... 40 years ago -- Super-Mom tells me that my first steps around the coffee table took place as they watched Neil Armstrong walk on the moon.

Walking into the chemo clinic wasn't so fun --

Walking around our coffee table as a kid might have been fun, but I don't remember it.

But -- I'm guessing that walking around NYC this weekend will be fun.

Thank goodness for the checklist...

... otherwise, I would have left my NYC guidebook at home.

It's the compact Fodor's "New York City's 25 Best" one.. with several handy maps etc.

It's been on my desk so long that I didn't see it...

A few fun photos...

The evil that is the Minion... there's no context in the photo, but this was taken as he pondered my death or his plot to take over the world -- he does so on top of the cat tree.


My plants on my deck -- which feels more like a porch than a deck. It's one of my favorite things about the apartment. Directly downstairs from the railing is a little swampy area -- and at the end of the deck (beyond the satellite dish) is the land that used to be a golf course and now is home to the deer, possum, etc...


A fight in progress... The Queen was peacefully sleeping in the sun. The Minion snuggled up to her, then the trouble started.



My workplace out on the deck -- I wrote most of my summer course out there -- it's amusing to watch the neighbors while I work. Note the iced tea pitcher and coffee cup -- caffeine helps.

Tomorrow I'm off to NYC -- and I'm super excited. I'm sure I'll have a billion tourist photos...

and sometimes staff isn't much better with details...

My Logic tutor is working with 5-7 students and having her own room with a board is very helpful.

Having a room scheduler who can actually read the room schedule would be helpful...

Last night at 6:00 -- my tutor found out that our very recent room reservation was put in an occupied room.

In response to my e-mail, the room scheduler than wants ME to tell her exactly what course is in there... as if I know. I already told her the course name... but it seems that wasn't enough.

So, I take 30 seconds to look in the on-line class schedule.

She could have done that. I did it from home, in my PJs --

It will be pretty amusing to see how long the scheduler tries to avoid giving us another room or accepting responsibility for making a mistake.

I'm not sure why I'm still thinking about this...

...whole A thing.

I suppose it was the audacity of demanding an alternative time to take the exam.

I wonder if, while trying to be open and approachable, I've given the wrong impression? Did A think that she could somehow demand an alternative time and I'd give it to her?

I suppose it's the combination of A's audacity and F's demand (of my tutor) that s/he be allowed to re-take the exam last night.

F's exam on Monday night was horrific. When your grade is about 15% on Monday, why would you think that taking an exam on the same material Wednesday is going to be any different? I know F didn't magically learn all the material over the 48 hours since the last exam... I wonder if F thinks I'm planning to give exactly the same problems?

On the other hand -- Negative Nancy from a few posts back, got a pretty darned good grade on the exam -- surprising herself...

They're here for a reason...

.. that's my mantra.

Sometimes they make their own reasons.

A is a student taking logic for the second time. The first time around was a bust -- A couldn't make it to class, wasn't prepared when they were in class and generally was interested in other stuff.

So far, A's had a good attendance record, but clearly hasn't been prepared. I think A is trying to do the course without putting in any time outside of class. That may work for other disciplines, and for other philosophy courses, but logic doesn't work that way.

So -- as predicted, A failed the most recent exam. A knew this exam was a lost cause and started to pester me about a make-up time--- it seems that the time I have isn't convenient.

I pretty much told A, 'tough sh*t' -- and outright asked her if she thought the third time she asked about other times was going to be any different? It isn't my fault that she couldn't pass it when I gave it in class -- and I'm sure as hell not going out of my way for someone who couldn't be bothered to learn it OR make it to the make-up time I so generously scheduled.

Turns out -- A has plans to be out of town early next week... and, clearly wasn't planning to come to class. hmmmm--- sometimes folks don't learn.

Also -- turns out that A took off over break to go to Sam's club... (i.e. out to inconvenient parking situation, down the highway, buy stuff at Sam's and come back)... like the tutor wouldn't notice her 30 minute break.

no -- darlin' I don't think you're going to pass this time around either.

Maybe you should take it from someone else--- oh, no --- that wouldn't be a good idea -- as I'm probably the most lenient (I prefer 'flexible') one teaching it... With anybody else you'd have to really change your ways... oh, wait -- you should do that for me too.

Two weeks from today, the whole shebang will be OVER -- and I'll be a happy, happy girl.

between now and then, I think I'll bitch about my students for a bit -- I hope you don't mind.