Oh no you don't....

... add my logic class after the second class meeting, then e-mail me and tell me you won't be there on the third class meeting as well.

Sadly (and stupidly) our system lets them do this for summer courses.

That does not mean that I have to re-teach everything I've taught so far this week -- in my office -- so that someone who can't get registered (or contact me) in a timely manner can pass the exam the class will be taking over the weekend.

Also, I will not set this student up for failure from the start - nor will I waste the first two class meetings (almost the equivalent of two FULL semester weeks) because our system permits this. Summer semesters are compact enough without blowing off two class meetings.

I've identified the first KFAP

KFAP (kid from another planet), claims he ran into "a little car trouble and some traffic" making it back from Chicago -- so he missed class yesterday.

My class is at 7:45 -- Chicago is 6-8 hours away... really, if traffic was part of the equation, you cut it too close KFAP.

It was kind of satisfying to tell KFAP that he had a lot of reading (that those who showed up on Monday got a head start on understanding), a reading quiz, a syllabus quiz and a discussion post to do -- by tomorrow.

We'll see if KFAP does it.... I'm not going to hold my breath.

I don't want to jinx it...

... but, I could have a defense date by the end of June...

wow.

Soem thoughts on partial on-line teaching...

I'm rather new to teaching on-line, at all... even partially on-line.

About a year ago I was figuring out how our on-line course management system works... yea, I'm slow.

In that year, I've picked up many good bits of advice from the internets ---so, thanks!

A few of them are:

• In the discussion section, make a "class talk" section, so they can ask class questions and they often answer themselves.
• Using the on-line grade book is helpful because it cuts down on the "what's my grade" questions... leaving only the KFAP (kids from another planet), who probably need to talk to you face to face anyway.
• They will have good discussions without me.
  
• Include your make-up period in the on-line testing period -- and try to give a class period for them to take exams. My CC students are often very tightly scheduled, so if they can use the time they'd otherwise drive to school, go to class etc.. to take the on-line exam, they will -- AND, probably most important, you can deflect the "I didn't have time to do the exam" excuse.
• The "course copy" function is wonderful -- I love it.
• Make friends with the instructional design / faculty tech support people. I'm really lucky to have two of them looking out for me -- and solving my vexing issues.
  

Some things I'm starting this summer --

• Content quizzes. After every subject they'll take a quiz on class content. This is in addition to the short reading quizzes they have before every new discussion/ reading assignment. Some of these content quizzes are essays (gasp), so I'll have to keep up with them.. but, they are quick to grade so it shouldn't be all that bad.
• Small, randomly selected, discussion groups. Each group posts on the same topic every week, then a discussant from that group synthesizes and posts the results for the whole class to see.

If they work, I'll keep doing them for the fall -- although, I'm going to think carefully about the stuff I have to grade... I'll have 150 students in three sections...

Misc update...

When I have a week off, apparently I use it to get my stuff in order..

Monday: Planted the two huge pots on my deck.
Tuesday: Filled up the recycling bin at work -- with old student stuff and handouts.
Wednesday: Cleaned out and rearranged the top cupboards in the kitchen.
Thursday (today): working on the bottom cupboards in the kitchen.

-- Currently, nearly all the plastic storage things we own are drying on the counter.

Friday -- will probably be laundry.

Allergy report -- they suck. I'm particularly sensitive to cottonwood, and the air is full of it. So, the weather is nice, my deck is beautiful and I'm inside with the A/C on.

Dissertation report -- still waiting on the readers... sigh.

Summer session starts on Monday, I'm mostly ready for it in terms of preparation, but not intellectually.

Felines: The Queen is the same -- currently sleeping in her basket. The Minion is settling down a little -- currently sitting on Hubby's desk and looking out the window.

Hubby: doing another set of law school homework... away from the chaos, smart man!

More apartment incompetence...

Once again the front door isn't working right.

A new student and a new challenge

I had an interesting phone call this week.

It was from a person who is doing occupational therapy for a client with a brain injury. The client had a heart attack and lost oxygen to his brain for a significant period of time. Prior to his heart attack, he was a mechanical engineer and the CEO of a company. Now, he's trying to recover his cognitive abilities.

The therapist was looking for a way for him to do more theoretical work -- and thought my logic class might do the trick. We had a discussion about the course, the challenges he may face because of his brain injury and I think he's going to register for the course this summer.

I think it's going to be fascinating to see this play out -- I suspect he'll do better than some of my supposedly fully functioning KFAP (kids from another planet) students. He'll at least try the homework, show up for class and he probably won't be stoned while doing so.

I also suspect that he'll know when class meets, be able to understand the concept of their grade as a percentage of the course and have is own book.... unlike this semester's KFAPs.