I'm a little surprised to see how long it's been since my last visit. I have been busy.
I did a Harry Potter presentation on Halloween. That was fun. The best part was that I got mentioned on a blog called The Chocolate Frog, which should be everyone's aspiration in life. I know this, of course, because I did a vanity Google.
I'm also pushing ahead with my oral history project. I've been working with The Good Dr. Sloan at USM, and I'm getting very excited about the whole thing. It looks like there might be some promising grant opportunities, and I am very much in favor of any activity that has me playing with microphones, talking to old people, and passing it off as an academic accomplishment. :)
I'm looking forward to presenting some of my project at the Cs.
I've also had students doing some oral histories, and I've been very pleased with the motivation levels. I'm even downright astounded by the degree to which the writing improved when they began to really care about the subject matter and about taking it home to show their grandmothers in the end. It was heartening enough to even make wading through six sections of essays at once a good experience.
I'm a little bit on the overbooked side for spring. If I show up for everything, I've got four presentations scheduled so far. All on different topics, of course. That might be stretching things even for someone whose entire social life consists of drinking coffee in public places while grading papers. I might have to sub-let some of my students.
That's about it. In my next incarnation, I'm going to have a blog called "The Haphazardician" because I know I'll always have periods of neglecting any blog I try to start up a relationship with.
Take care, everyone. Stay warm and caffeinated for the upcoming grading crunch.
6 comments:
Congratulations on your teacher of the year award, Sharon. You're amazing in how much you can accomplish. Teaching six sections, and grading the essays for each section, seems like murder. I like seeing your innovative use of blogging in that you make your assignments visible for your students. Does your institution offer web enhancement for each class so that you can offer quizzes online, for example? Best of luck to you at the end of the semester. I have to get back to my grading.
Thanks, FCB. We use Blackboard for online classes, and it is available for web enhancement to day classes. I've used it some. I've also used some programs that come packaged with textbooks. I'm never quite sure those are worth the hassle. The blog is easy, though. I don't have to set up any student profiles or passwords. I just put the stuff out there.
The students actually ask me to put things on the blog. It makes it easier for them to keep up with assignments. Overall, it is a well-loved, well-used little blog.
Welcome back! It's always great to read whatever you have to say whenever you have time to say it.
Thanks. :)
Hey there! Are the oral histories Katrina related? I hope to see you at Cs in March. I'll make sure to look up when you present. I'm 930am that Friday. Can't wait to meet you!
Daisy, my panel is at 10:30 on Thursday. I can't wait to meet you too!
Many of my students are doing Katrina interviews, but they aren't limited to that. So far it looks like they are getting some good things, though.
My own project has to do with education. I'm the child of school teachers. I've been talking about doing an oral history project on schools in Mississippi for years. Now that I've gotten everyone around me excited about that topic I have to stick to it. :)
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