Turning in Grades December 16, 2008

It’s finally here.  I am about to turn in my final grades and put my first professional quarter behind me.  Quarters are too short.  There was so much that I wanted to get to, but had to push it aside due to time constraints.  As I plan for Winter 09 I now have a little better of an understanding about how to arrange the schedule and focus the classes.

Of course, my Winter classes are a little different than my Fall ones, so I have to come up with new syllabi, but I have a pretty good handle on them.

Things to change:

- Take out all of Franklin’s bio and concentrate on other narratives of education.  Franklin is wonderful, but my students have such a hard time with his writing style.  Douglass worked well and (when I teach 80 again) will be my major focus.  Actually, another teacher is using my Douglass idea for her 80 class this quarter, which is a compliment.

- Stare Ender’s Game earlier.  We are doing Card in my online class next quarter.  This will make it interesting.

- Concentrate heavily on research methods in my research writing class.  I glossed them this quarter and feel that my class suffered a little for that.

- Stay up on grading.  This grading at the end is a hassle.

Recent Reading (Ellis and Card) August 25, 2008

Warren Ellis – Crooked Little Vein: I think I built this one up in my head a little too much.  I’m a huge fan of Ellis’ comic work, but I am more of a Global Frequency and Orbiter guy than a Transmat. Ellis’ first novel had some interesting ideas, but it mostly spun a mildly interesting yarn in the pulp vein with tons of references to off kilter sexual practices and other weirdness.  If your an Ellis fan, check it out.  If you are just a fan of hard boiled pulp, move along to Hard Case Crime.

Orson Scott Card – Seventh Son: Most of your know that I’m an Orson Scott Card fan.  I am actually using Ender’s Game in one of my classes this fall.  So, you might be surprised to find out that I only now made it around to this series.  Well, it wasn’t for lack of trying.  I’ve just had so much to read and a large series takes up time.  Seventh Son is a killer book.  An alternative history of the US that deals with magic, religion, and different ideas of faith.  Everyone should check this book out.  I’ve just started the second book in the series – Red Prophet and it looks to be just as good if not better.