Teaching this semester is going to be different. I only have 3 courses to teach as I will be TAKING 2 courses. Taking courses for the first time in almost 5 years will be a challenge in itself. Here is my teaching schedule for the Fall:
MWF - 10:00am - IS380 Database Design and Processing
Teaching out of a new book for the first time this semester. This book should address some of the issues that we have had with the original text used for this course but I will reserve judgment until we get further into the semester. Small course in terms of numbers so hopefully we have lots of good discussion.
TTh - 10:00am & 11:30 IS260 Data Management
Two sections of this course back to back. While there is a negative aspect to that lineup, I love it. These classes are both FULL for the first time in years. I hope that trend will continue. I strongly believe that all Business majors should take this course as it addresses lots of skills that are necessary in everyday business dealings.
I will also be "helping" teach an Honors course that Dr. Cronk will be teaching. I mostly help with just the section regarding Virtual Worlds. It was a positive experience last year and hope it will be the same this year as well.
And that is it!!! I think I will be all "Databased" out by December but this will help me get back into the swing of things academically for myself.
Buckle up, here we go!
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Fall 2010
Each new school year comes with a couple of characteristics.
1. You can start over. Everyone has a perfect 4.0 in the morning. No matter what the history says, you have a new slate that is wiped clean. Its amazing how this helps effect people. Almost like a new year's resolution, students and teachers alike pledge to either try something new, not make the same mistakes as in the previous semesters, or continue doing the same positive habits another year.
2. Things have stayed the same. Most of the teachers are still in their same offices. Classmates and friends may have a little more or less hair, a few less or more lbs., but for the most part, they are the same people. Obviously point number 1 comes into play but the comfort of familiarity is nice to have. Seeing that friend face to face is just not the same a facebook.
3. Things have changed. Points 1 and 2 somewhat overlap here. A new building, a new professor, a new outlook or behavior due to point number 1. These all happen every year and they mostly are positive. Sure you have the messy breakup that makes everyone feel awkward as mutual friends see each other for the first time but this even goes away after a few weeks.
So what does this have to do with me and this blog post.
I always evaluate the events of the previous year over the Summer and mull over mistakes I made, positives, and how I can improve. Starting my fourth year teaching full time I'm going to try a couple of things differently.
1. You can start over. Everyone has a perfect 4.0 in the morning. No matter what the history says, you have a new slate that is wiped clean. Its amazing how this helps effect people. Almost like a new year's resolution, students and teachers alike pledge to either try something new, not make the same mistakes as in the previous semesters, or continue doing the same positive habits another year.
2. Things have stayed the same. Most of the teachers are still in their same offices. Classmates and friends may have a little more or less hair, a few less or more lbs., but for the most part, they are the same people. Obviously point number 1 comes into play but the comfort of familiarity is nice to have. Seeing that friend face to face is just not the same a facebook.
3. Things have changed. Points 1 and 2 somewhat overlap here. A new building, a new professor, a new outlook or behavior due to point number 1. These all happen every year and they mostly are positive. Sure you have the messy breakup that makes everyone feel awkward as mutual friends see each other for the first time but this even goes away after a few weeks.
So what does this have to do with me and this blog post.
I always evaluate the events of the previous year over the Summer and mull over mistakes I made, positives, and how I can improve. Starting my fourth year teaching full time I'm going to try a couple of things differently.
- This blog. I have never been good about this but I am going to try and write at least something each week. Topics can be random to specific but I want to chronicle the next few years of my life as they will be especially life altering.
- PhD. This isn't really something I am going to be doing differently. This is just something I am doing. Refer to life altering note above. Who would have thought I would be embarking on THAT journey? I need to write down my thoughts as I go through this process. It will be a great exercise and hopefully something that will be therapeutic too.
- Tweet. Yes I already do this, but I would like to be more intentional about this. Sure I love to ramble on about my latest sport soap box with friends but I really want to make that space something more meaningful as well. This ties into the blog as well.
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