My Review

Well I had my review with my Associate Dean and everything went well.  I am still employed and he had very little for me to correct (there is always room for improvement though).

Here are a few things tht did go wrong – now they seem funny:

1.  5 minutes before class started I needed to change rooms as the projectors in my scheduled lecture hall were being replaced.  No projector + no powerpoint = bad lesson for review!

2.  We always do a podcast review at the beginning of class and of course no one was volunteering to present a podcast they could find.  So just before Ihad to get nasty and assign someone to come up a student volunteered.  Thank you one student for being prepared and not blowing that part of the lesson.

3. A student received a phone call 5 minutes into my lecture.  It was bad enought that the phone rang but then he answered it.  I gave him a nasty look thinking he would hang up – he did not.  I called out his name and motioned to hang up – he did not.  He actually said on the phone  “Well, people in the class are looking at me weird so I guess I better hang up.  I’ll call you after class” – Thanks you rude student – you are not high on my list!  My Dean laughed though in my review – students these days!!!

So for now I’m good for another semester – one down 5 more to go not counting summer until I’m off probation!!!

October Cohort Meeting

Here are some photos from our October Meeting with Special Needs!!

Special Needs Visits IPA

Johnathan and Anne listen attentively!

Kim taking a break from organizing - one of my role models!

Mentor – A Good Thing!

I have to say that I was unsure what I would be able to talk about with my mentor.  I don’t have a lot of teaching knowledge and thought constantly asking dumb questions like “How do I do this?” and “How do I do that?” would get very boring for him.

Our bi-weekly lunches have really been great!  If there is any kind of problem with a student, administration or even something as dumb as – “When do you actually schedule your final exams?” he has insight that years of experience at NWTC has brought him.  Even just chatting about the Packers or non-school related stuff has been helpful to let me get my mind off problems for a while!!

Good System IPA!

First Security Referral

Last night a student from my class and a student from another class had some words and it escalated to the student from the other class grabbing a photo tripod and threatening to beat the other student.  I calmed the situation down immediately but the one student is feeling threatened and scared.  So I had to go with another instructor to security and start a process of reporting the incident.

I hate to cause a problem for any student but of course that is an unacceptable situation and needed to be reported.  I feel bad because I like to help all students and this one has a lot of potential.  It’s better to report it and risk losing this student than him hurting another student.  Or worse for me – losing my job.

This was a tough day!!

iTunes U

We are working on a pilot project in Digital Media Technology – iTunes University.  It allows colleges to deliver audio and video and other content through the iTunes music store so students can be involved in class from anywhere, not just the lecture hall.

We had a big meeting to showcase what we will be doing this semester and I thought I would upload my 1st lecture podcast.  I tried to impress on Dr. DeMarte and the others in attendance at the meeting that  quality branding is needed both visually and aurally.

I think they liked it.  Here it is:

Internet Broadcasting Lecture 1

You Are NOT in High School Anymore

I said this to my class this week.  They were showing their recent projects to the rest of the class this week.  They made podcasts from broadcast radio content, by adding some tags on the beginning and end to make it sound more like  a new show for the net instead of just copying what was put out over the radio.

Many did great, but about 1/3 of the students did only half of the assignment.  I even gave them an extra week to work on them because many said they were not quite done.  I tried to let them know that I was not going to hold their hands and drag them through assignments.  We discuss the assignments before they start and many in the class understood what to do.

I felt it was an excuse for being lazy.  So I explained that in High School a teacher would spell out every piece of an assignment and you could probably do that exactly and be fine.  In college you get a good thorough explanation of the assignment but it is up to you to take it and run woth it and put in the effort.  I won’t watch over you (too much) to nake sure you are working.

I ended with “You are not in HS anymore!”

I am feeling a little bit like that may have been mean.  But I see potential in students that just don’t produce.  My thought was to motivate them – what do you all think?

First Major Cold

My wife brought back some nasty germs from her “Germ Factory” – Little Chute Elementary School.  It totally floored me.  I had Wed off and spent most of it in bed.  I taught Thursday night but it wore me out and set me back for Friday.

Now it’s Monday – I feel much better but not perfect.  I need to catch up on all the planning I thought I would do while I was sick.  Didn’t do any – couldn’t get my butt of the couch or out of bed – no motivation with a fever!!

Settling In – But Falling Behind

So things seem to be going well for most of my classes.  I have one class that I really need to re-think the assignments that I am giving to the class.  It seems more random than I would like.  Not a major deal but I just need to make sure that what I change stays within the competences of the class.

I do feel like each week I am rushing to prpeare for the classes though.  For some reson on Friday I feel totally relaxed and ready for the new week and then on Sunay night I realize Monday and Tuesday (my busiest day) are right around the corner and I have things to prepare.  A better handle on my own schedule is definitely needed.  I will work on that.

This is so different than the corporate world and I couldn’t be happier!!!

Keeping Up

Well, I’m into week 3 but I am feeling a little bit like the things around teaching are not getting done.  We have more IPA learning to do this week and I have not even looked at it.  I do have Friday off so I am hoping by the end of Friday I feel more caught up.  I have not had time to research any other ways to get the material to my students so I have still been using powerpoints.  I also started recording my lecture for Internet Broadcasting because I need to participate in a trial for iTunes U.  I like doing it but I want it to be a great product and I know I will have limited time.

Time to breathe!!

2nd Week

OK – so I made it into the second week.  I really like this (job?)  doesn’t feel like a job so I don’t know what to call it.  I have had snags like technology not working and maybe not being as clear as possible but overall things are going well.  My students seem intersted in the classes and we are all having fun getting things learned.

Next week after Labor day we start with some harder tech things in most of the classes so we shall see how well things continue.

I do need to brush up on alternative ways to present info.  My powerpoints have been really great with very few words, lots of cool graphics and embedded audio and video.  Now I need to come up with a new technique.

I will also start recording one of my classes for podcasting next week and continue it hroughout the semester.

I’ll keep you informed with links and audio!