Not only am I on the "General Education Assessment Committee", but now I'm on the AQIP Assessment Committee... and I'm not exactly sure why..
In many ways I found the first meeting today not completely annoying, even though it was a 2ish hour-long meeting. We have another in a couple of weeks -- and I have nothing to contribute to the research that is supposed to be discussed. The Chair of the committee is a friend of mine, and he pretty much told me that I was on the committee because they liked me :)...
Other than that meeting, I had a pretty tranquil day -- I have the funny feeling that I'm not doing something that should be done. I've reviewed every class and project and there is nothing hanging around undone. I have a set of papers due tomorrow and Thursday, so I'll be back to normal (i.e. avoiding grading..).
Maybe it is because I'm used to teaching 5 philosophy courses AND coaching the team. This semster I'm down to 3 philosophy classes, a teaching circle and debate... for slightly more money. It is also probably odd right now because I've adjusted my classes to decrease the number of longer papers ANd I'm using the same book as last semester so the lectures are all done and the exams just need revision.
In other words, I've finally -- after 3 years here-- figured out how to teach smarter not harder. Now, if I could only adjust without having a small anxiety attack.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Monday, February 27, 2006
Teaching -- grade status reports
Today and tomorrow may be kind of scary for my students -- I'm giving them the wake-up call they need about their grades and the impacts of ignoring the short summary papers I've assigned. In some classes, only two or three are close to an A.
The Intro to Philosophy sections have papers due on Thursday, Logic has a quiz -- hopefully seeing their current grades will make them get their acts together and do the work.
In all honesty, this isn't really hard stuff or ideas --- if they would only do the reading and the assignments I give them, they'd get it and get good grades. I don't want to let them drift along like they have been. It is almost mid-term time and if they don't get their acts together now they'll be screwed by the time I get back from KQRS/NPJLKMNOPDA nationals.
I wonder if they think it is only busy work -- that I LIKE spending Sunday afternoons at Caribou Coffee grading their papers... in all honesty, they probably do think I like it. Logic probably thinks I like to assign them homework they aren't doing... although it is true that I kind of like solving logic problems.... but, don't tell them that :).
The Intro to Philosophy sections have papers due on Thursday, Logic has a quiz -- hopefully seeing their current grades will make them get their acts together and do the work.
In all honesty, this isn't really hard stuff or ideas --- if they would only do the reading and the assignments I give them, they'd get it and get good grades. I don't want to let them drift along like they have been. It is almost mid-term time and if they don't get their acts together now they'll be screwed by the time I get back from KQRS/NPJLKMNOPDA nationals.
I wonder if they think it is only busy work -- that I LIKE spending Sunday afternoons at Caribou Coffee grading their papers... in all honesty, they probably do think I like it. Logic probably thinks I like to assign them homework they aren't doing... although it is true that I kind of like solving logic problems.... but, don't tell them that :).
Happy Birthday Hubby -- updated
Today is Hubby's birthday. He's 38. I remember his 18th birthday.... talk about amazing.
I'm a lucky person to have married such a wonderful guy. He's smart, sexy, intelligent and passionate.
Hubby makes me a better person and challenges me to achieve things I never would have otherwise. I'm sure I wouldn't be teaching philosophy and coaching debate without him -- I'd never have even GONE to grad school, say nothing of started a dissertation without his encouragement.
Hubby is the kind of person that takes seriously the challenge that we ought not complain about something unless you propose a solution to the problem. This was the motivation behind his starting KQRS nationals.... he didn't like the way NPJKLMNDA nationals was run, so he talked to some people and started KQRS -- which is now shaping and adjusting the way debate is done across the country. Next month will be the 6th KQRS nationals, I never thought #1 would happen.... ever.
I hope hubby has a good day today -- He had cards and a present on the birthday tree last night (our Christmas tree is now naked, it was just waiting for decoration...). Tonight we have a different kind of debate meeting... I'm going to order pizza and will probably get a cake for hubby's birthday for the team to share. We'll spend the whole time talking about the topics, eating pizza and cake and plotting strategy necessary to rule the world... or at least to win some f-ing debate rounds.
Update -- the Birthday Surprise worked... he went downstairs to find his beloved Jeep Liberty washed and cleaned inside, and a gift bag full of DVDs on the front seat. It is fun to actually be able to surprise him after 15 years and 20 birthdays... not bad, eh??
I'm a lucky person to have married such a wonderful guy. He's smart, sexy, intelligent and passionate.
Hubby makes me a better person and challenges me to achieve things I never would have otherwise. I'm sure I wouldn't be teaching philosophy and coaching debate without him -- I'd never have even GONE to grad school, say nothing of started a dissertation without his encouragement.
Hubby is the kind of person that takes seriously the challenge that we ought not complain about something unless you propose a solution to the problem. This was the motivation behind his starting KQRS nationals.... he didn't like the way NPJKLMNDA nationals was run, so he talked to some people and started KQRS -- which is now shaping and adjusting the way debate is done across the country. Next month will be the 6th KQRS nationals, I never thought #1 would happen.... ever.
I hope hubby has a good day today -- He had cards and a present on the birthday tree last night (our Christmas tree is now naked, it was just waiting for decoration...). Tonight we have a different kind of debate meeting... I'm going to order pizza and will probably get a cake for hubby's birthday for the team to share. We'll spend the whole time talking about the topics, eating pizza and cake and plotting strategy necessary to rule the world... or at least to win some f-ing debate rounds.
Update -- the Birthday Surprise worked... he went downstairs to find his beloved Jeep Liberty washed and cleaned inside, and a gift bag full of DVDs on the front seat. It is fun to actually be able to surprise him after 15 years and 20 birthdays... not bad, eh??
Week befor Spring Break
Next week is Spring Break -- YEA! That means that I can leave about 1/3 of my job behind -- and only coach debate next week --- and, run a tournament this weekend.... Thank goodness we keep our tournament uncomplicated, no individual events -- and no elaborate awards ceremony.Hubby and I decided that we would even skip the formal welcome and thanks, putting them on a PowerPoint displayed at the front of the room. We HATE those things at other tournaments, so don't want to infest our tourament with that crap.
I think that missing Spring Break is the thing that I miss the most when coaching debate. I don't think I've had a full Spring Break since I've been coaching... 9 years is a long time to go without one. The problem is that March is nationals time, it is also when every school I've been at in the last 9 years schedules their Spring Break. Some years we are traveling to or from nationals during break, others we are preparing for nationals during break.... either way, I don't get one.
Last year was a particularly big challenge... we hosted KQRS nationals last year --- so the first weekend was spent in a flurry of activity, then we slept all day on Monday, did practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday and left for NPQRRSDA nationals on Thursday morning VERY early. Competition was Friday-Sunday and we flew home on Monday.
Compared to last year, I'll actually have some break time -- We'll host our tournament Fri-Sun, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we'll do some debate work and then Thursday - Sunday will be a NO DEBATE ZONE!...
The week after Spring Break we'll have a "normal" week, then leave for KQRS nationals on Friday really early. We won't come back until after NPQRSDA nationals -- I guess, in retrospect, I do get a few of my Spring Break days back in Oregon... as I'm missing classes to stay out there.
After we get back from NPQRSDA nationals, things get much nicer around here -- no debate travel and only 3 philosophy classes to teach. The Debaters will be working on their end of semester debate portfolios, but we won't have any more meetings --- so that clears up 2 nights for me. Imagine, I could leave campus no later than 5:15 EVERY NIGHT! Wow...
I think that missing Spring Break is the thing that I miss the most when coaching debate. I don't think I've had a full Spring Break since I've been coaching... 9 years is a long time to go without one. The problem is that March is nationals time, it is also when every school I've been at in the last 9 years schedules their Spring Break. Some years we are traveling to or from nationals during break, others we are preparing for nationals during break.... either way, I don't get one.
Last year was a particularly big challenge... we hosted KQRS nationals last year --- so the first weekend was spent in a flurry of activity, then we slept all day on Monday, did practice rounds on Tuesday and Wednesday and left for NPQRRSDA nationals on Thursday morning VERY early. Competition was Friday-Sunday and we flew home on Monday.
Compared to last year, I'll actually have some break time -- We'll host our tournament Fri-Sun, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we'll do some debate work and then Thursday - Sunday will be a NO DEBATE ZONE!...
The week after Spring Break we'll have a "normal" week, then leave for KQRS nationals on Friday really early. We won't come back until after NPQRSDA nationals -- I guess, in retrospect, I do get a few of my Spring Break days back in Oregon... as I'm missing classes to stay out there.
After we get back from NPQRSDA nationals, things get much nicer around here -- no debate travel and only 3 philosophy classes to teach. The Debaters will be working on their end of semester debate portfolios, but we won't have any more meetings --- so that clears up 2 nights for me. Imagine, I could leave campus no later than 5:15 EVERY NIGHT! Wow...
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Teaching is a two-person arrangement
I wonder what would happen if I did the following...
Walked into the classroom, sat down at my desk in the front of the room, randomly drank my coffee, messed around with my stuff but didn't get ready for class.
When class time comes, I ask the class what we are supposed to talk about -- like I really didn't know.
If they look at me funny, I'll say that I was sick -- or I had to take the cat to the vet, or I was busy working over the weekend and didn't figure out what was going on.
I could let this go on for a while -- maybe 20 minutes or so... asking them what they have due soon, what they've had due in the past and when the next exam is -- all stuff that is on the syllabus. If they give me a topic, I'll start talking about it poorly -- without my usual set of PowerPoints and fully considered discussion prompts. I'll ask them questions about the topic and act kind of stupid. If they press me, I'll use the "philosophy gives me a headache, I can't do it" excuse I heard via another student last week. I'll then tell them that they shouldn't bother coming to class the week after break because I "have to go on vacation with my family"-- and that we need to end early today because I have a gyno appointment.
Finally, I'll ask them if they've had enough -- if they are sick of the airhead me and would like their normal dorky but prepared philosophy teacher back...
I'll then explain to them that learning anything, and especially learning philosophy, is a two-person enterprise. I come prepared to teach every day... no matter if I had "a lot going on" (when don't I...), or if I "don't feel well" or whatever. I really can't teach them unless they are ready to learn. That means doing the homework and being prepared to ask questions as necessary.
I'd also tell them that they would be rightly outraged if any of their instructors acted as I did, and that their instructors have learned to live with the outrage and intentional disrespect displayed when they can't even manage to read a couple of short chapters before class.
Then, I'd probably get fired -- so maybe I need to wait until I'm tenured (off probation around here... as close to tenured as it gets..). The slakcers of BNCC should watch out, Fall 06 -- that is my time....
Walked into the classroom, sat down at my desk in the front of the room, randomly drank my coffee, messed around with my stuff but didn't get ready for class.
When class time comes, I ask the class what we are supposed to talk about -- like I really didn't know.
If they look at me funny, I'll say that I was sick -- or I had to take the cat to the vet, or I was busy working over the weekend and didn't figure out what was going on.
I could let this go on for a while -- maybe 20 minutes or so... asking them what they have due soon, what they've had due in the past and when the next exam is -- all stuff that is on the syllabus. If they give me a topic, I'll start talking about it poorly -- without my usual set of PowerPoints and fully considered discussion prompts. I'll ask them questions about the topic and act kind of stupid. If they press me, I'll use the "philosophy gives me a headache, I can't do it" excuse I heard via another student last week. I'll then tell them that they shouldn't bother coming to class the week after break because I "have to go on vacation with my family"-- and that we need to end early today because I have a gyno appointment.
Finally, I'll ask them if they've had enough -- if they are sick of the airhead me and would like their normal dorky but prepared philosophy teacher back...
I'll then explain to them that learning anything, and especially learning philosophy, is a two-person enterprise. I come prepared to teach every day... no matter if I had "a lot going on" (when don't I...), or if I "don't feel well" or whatever. I really can't teach them unless they are ready to learn. That means doing the homework and being prepared to ask questions as necessary.
I'd also tell them that they would be rightly outraged if any of their instructors acted as I did, and that their instructors have learned to live with the outrage and intentional disrespect displayed when they can't even manage to read a couple of short chapters before class.
Then, I'd probably get fired -- so maybe I need to wait until I'm tenured (off probation around here... as close to tenured as it gets..). The slakcers of BNCC should watch out, Fall 06 -- that is my time....
What goes around, comes around
I have to wonder if there really isn't a God out there --- or, maybe Karma is alive and well..
Last week I decided to lend a good friend some money. This money was for an excellent cause and will be well spent of this I am very sure. It is an investment in the future of this friend and I'm very comfortable with my decision.
A couple of weeks ago, I found out that my second cousin will be married in New York this summer. He and I aren't particularly close, but I've never been to NYC and would love to go..
I'm not teaching this summer, so no fat extra summer paychecks for us --- so it seemed that the wedding trip to NYC would depend on some anticipated but not assured good financial news for us.. I knew this when lending the friend money, and was fine with that as well. The loan was a good priority --- and I couldn't not lend it just to go play in NYC.
It turns out that there is a way for us to pay for the trip afterall... and not one that I'd ever expected...
Last week I decided to lend a good friend some money. This money was for an excellent cause and will be well spent of this I am very sure. It is an investment in the future of this friend and I'm very comfortable with my decision.
A couple of weeks ago, I found out that my second cousin will be married in New York this summer. He and I aren't particularly close, but I've never been to NYC and would love to go..
I'm not teaching this summer, so no fat extra summer paychecks for us --- so it seemed that the wedding trip to NYC would depend on some anticipated but not assured good financial news for us.. I knew this when lending the friend money, and was fine with that as well. The loan was a good priority --- and I couldn't not lend it just to go play in NYC.
It turns out that there is a way for us to pay for the trip afterall... and not one that I'd ever expected...
Domestic Updates..
The Christmas Tree is now naked -- and standing in the living room. If hubby doesn't take it down there could be birthday decorations on it by Monday... hmmmmm.
Plans for today include folding laundry and grading..
So THIS is what a weekend feels like.. I have one more of these betwen now and the end of KNPDARS nationals... that is also "Spring Break".
I'm watching Bob Villa's home show and just saw a self-watering window box. It has a resovoir and holds enough water to last for a week... gotta get me some of them...
Plans for today include folding laundry and grading..
So THIS is what a weekend feels like.. I have one more of these betwen now and the end of KNPDARS nationals... that is also "Spring Break".
I'm watching Bob Villa's home show and just saw a self-watering window box. It has a resovoir and holds enough water to last for a week... gotta get me some of them...
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