Awesome grammar lesson /find from "The Oatmeal"

Double click to see images larger. Find the complete interactive digital artwork at their website which includes common mechanical errors with fun, accessible, explanations. I embedded a few such as one of my pet peeves:

and here's another common error.

Facebook

I've had a Facebook account for about a decade, but a couple years ago a fellow JCCC instructor, John Mack, convinced me there are educational applications. See his video on my youtube channel here. Like any tool - Facebook can be used for good or evil.

I friend any students who ask - but I don't initiate contact unless other forms of communication failed and/or there was concern for a student's well-being or success. If you have ideas re: a more effective Facebook policy for a teacher or class - post here to the comments.

My classes last semester created class pages - this one was kept up the best and the longest. It may change its name and become a comp 2 class page next semester. Students have to take ownership tools and applications - or they don't work.

Check out our social bookmarking site for research/ links re: Facebook - and suggest additional links resources

advice to students

Attendance is necessary for success - and no matter how often I tell students ,about 3-7% don't seem to "get" that; however, just showing up and doing the minimum required by the assignment won't get you an "A." About a third of students don't get that.

How can I get these ideas through to students better?

Further advice - straight from students - can be found in a couple of videos I shot and edited in 2008. Student perspectives are different from teachers' - and sometimes we can learn better from a peer than we can from a teacher. See here, and here. The videos are short and fun.

P.S. all numbers and percentages pulled out of the air - but my best estimate. I may be venturing into "do as I say; don't do as I do" territory.

Student evaluations of my teaching 2009

Because it has been my first semester at a new school, with new textbooks, a unique student population and new administrative systems and procedures for me to learn, I've erred on the side of flexibility, communication and student support. I've: extended deadlines at signs of confusion and readdressed assignments, sent more email to students regarding performance than ever in my past 14 years of teaching, and even called at risk students at home. This is in addition to a wiki site with tons of content and this blog - which has had 37 posts over a 16 week period - more than twice a week I've published relevant information, shared feedback and offered an opportunity for student feedback and collaboration. I gathered feedback at midterm and over the last 2 weeks - here is some of what I've learned.

• Students didn't know I have chronic asthma. Frequent deep breaths can be interpreted as sighs - students who paid no attention to my breathing suddenly become quite sensitive to it after a paper get's handed in or a question is asked. I heard this once before from a faculty peer observer who didn't know me well. I need to warn students so they don't confuse respiration with exasperation.
  
• Those who used the blog loved it - but when I asked "what did you think of the blog, wiki and podcast" many said, "What? You have a blog?" Every week (and after every new post) I'd show it on the projector - but still I need to brainstorm ways to advertise it as a resource and how to get students to comment.
• We like the wiki - but the organization stinks. For the record it is a collaborative space managed by students. I agree it's a mess, but that mess is a community effort and a community responsibility. In retrospect my name shouldn't appear in the link address. I thought when I created the first page my name would help identify it for students - but reflecting now it might make it seem more teacher-owned than student-owned. It might also reveal personal ego/ hubris.
  
• Students don't seem to appreciate getting phone calls when they miss several classes/ required work - though a text message would be appreciated. From my perspective the calling took a lot of time, and didn't seem effective. The one or two people who did come back to class after getting a phone call disappeared again. It might have actually saved the success of one student - but he did react as though he felt the call was intrusive.
  

Finals

Finals - think of the meaning of the word. The end. The last. But I hope students see it as an opportunity. Luck favors the prepared - or as my Lao Sher put it, "the battle is decided before the fighting begins;" which is pithier and easier to remember than the translation I found on the web:

the general who wins a battle makes many calculations in his temple ere the battle is fought. The general who loses a battle makes but few calculations beforehand. Thus do many calculations lead to victory, and few calculations to defeat: how much more no calculation at all! It is by attention to this point that I can foresee who is likely to w in or lose.
-Sun Tzu, the Art of War

Click for Final schedule for all classes at JCCC this semester.

Bad weather coming - what's procedure?

Weather agencies predict dangerous conditions. I hear our school is really on top of the web page info, but KS weather is unpredictable. This is what I've found online re: school alerts/ closing notification. I've generally had the attitude that I get more done at work than I do at school - so I tend to make it anyway, but safety is a top priority.

We are a commuter school. We spend more time on the road. We may want to establish a quick and informal forum here to communicate our concerns and thoughts in how we deal with any challenge. Next semester we may have a phone tree set up.

Has anyone signed up for the JCCC instant messaging service? Then you know about school alerts before anyone else (particularly me; my cell is ancient - pre-texting capabilities). If so comment to this post now and let us know if you have "connections" for inside info, and comment again when/ if you learn anything.

I don't anticipate canceling class - but check this post for most up to date info - and share what you know. Also, suggest better or additional questions for the poll/survey. We might use the survey from 6:00 am to 6:30 am if weather is bad and school decision hasn't been made.