Susan came down with my cold I caught two weeks ago. She is still asleep upstairs. I lived on Nyquil for three days and slept through most of it. I still have the cough though. Mucinex has helped some but it hasn't gotten rid of it.
My bio classes heard about mutations this week and were brutally beaten by a fairly innocuous quiz. I was shocked how many still couldn't transcribe a gene. Anyway, the ordeal continued when I hurt their brains with the hemoglobin B-chain gene. I love it because it sums up everything we covered in nucleic acids. Plus, they get to see a real-life gene. The part that makes me smile is their discovery of introns. All of a sudden the gene skips a huge section that isn't translated. Plus the gene makes this weird shift between reading frames. It is a struggle. By the end they are worn out and fried. I had one group bail five minutes before the end of class but I talked them down. The test is on monday and tuesday: 77 questions. It is easier than the quizzes. I've already had a few students ask me if there is any hope for them getting a C (one just wants a D--Pell Grant). Hard to say after just one exam. But there is a trend that exam scores run about the same throughout the semester. I've been really trying to push the idea that they need to study 5-10 hours a week outside of class. Apparently they don't believe me.
Physical science had their midterm this week. Fifty terms to match with their definitions. I had a couple of 100's and a few in the teens. Fortunately for the unengaged students, I didn't weigh the midterm very much so although they failed two exams they are still in the passing range. I guess the rest of the semester will sort of be like a balloon payment. They have a unit exam in two weeks. I really hope my athletes get their acts together by then. Three came late to the midterm so it cut my lecture time in half so instead of starting fresh with geology on Tuesday I will be finishing astronomy.
I was successful on my reshuffling of courses for Spring. They had A&P I down as a hybrid on our campus. I think that is really unfair for students. They do much better and are happier in a traditional course. If they want a hybrid, they can go to MacArthur where all they have is hybrids.
My math colleague Pat Senn and I put in Foundation mini-grant applications for ceiling mounted projectors in two classrooms. For years the math folks have wheeled portable projectors down the hall to teach their classes. I hope we get at least one down in the math room on the first floor. They are about $2000 a piece.
I have returned to my long-range plan of teaching BIO 103 as a PBL class. PBL stands for problem-based learning and looks like a more effective and interesting way to teach. My goal is to cover four units during a semester. So far I have two units mapped out: malaria and milk. By exploring these two topics, students will hit upon the major principles of general biology. It will also help them focus more directly on the goals of college: reading for understanding, writing to communicate, logical reasoning and critical thinking. I would really like a two more units, preferably one dealing with photosynthesis and another dealing with reproduction and inheritance.
I had an epiphany yesterday when I realized that I needed topics that repeated the same general principles in their own way. So by encountering the same principles four times, hopefully, learning will be reinforced. That took a lot of the pressure off.
My big obstacle right now is what to do about the labs. It has taken me years to develop lab activities that reinforce and expand upon material covered in lectures. By eliminating lectures and the traditional slog through the book, what will the lab consist of?
My second problem is dealing with evaluations. How are the students going to demonstrate their comprehension of the material? Exams and quizzes will still be in there but they will also have to be revised. The writing component plagues me the most. Lately, I have been extremely impressed with graphic novels. Since biology is such a visual topic, I thought it would be great for each student group to illustrate their findings as "graphic non-fiction". A few months ago I read about a wonderful library in NYC where they hand out blank sketchbooks. People can fill them with anything. The one caveat is they must donate it to the library. So now they have a growing collection of hand-drawn works. I thought of making my own learning journal when I watch my teaching company course on the weather. So I picture my student groups making their own "graphic biology book" for each unit.
What I will need to do before all of this comes to pass is to work out one unit completely and see if it is possible. I am also considering teaching one course where we would have one unit the first month and then the remaining three as traditional just to see how it works. I am really excited about all of this. I wish I could find some kindred spirits who I could exchange ideas with. I am sure there are other PBL fans out there teaching biology.
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Off the Meds
I stopped taking my anti-depressants seven weeks ago to see if I really needed them. I began them almost ten years ago when I started have thoughts of suicide. A few years later the Lexapro stopped working and I lost interest in most everything and wanted to sleep all the time. My therapist Fonda noticed the change and got me into Dr. Harwood. I got my meds sorted out but after years of being an easy patient, I wondered if I still needed them so I stopped. So far so good. I haven't had any bad blue days and I still have lots of interests. I'm a little more joyful at times and today a bit serious. The biological imperative has gotten stronger though.
Mid-term is next week and I am right where I want to be in biology but I am a week behind in physical science. I finish astronomy this next week and then onto rocks! I may never make it to weather. They have turned room 224 into a physics lab. It has some beautiful benches, a front lab desk and soon electrical outlets. Good news for bio since we could use it if there is ever a lab conflict.
I spent several hours Thursday afternoon and Friday morning revising the Spring semester schedule for Abbie and me. I worked it out so Abbie could teach A&P I as a traditional course instead of as a hybrid. I finally understood why Abbie teaches so many hybrids. Her family demands and commute from Greenville are complicated. I hope Mary Ann goes for it because it accomodates Abbie and is 100% better for our students.
I had one major faux pas this week. I had scheduled a stargazing activity for Tuesday night. I had checked the weather channel forecast the previous night and it said Tuesday night would be cloudy. I checked it Tuesday morning and it had changed to clear. Well, I went out at 4PM to calibrate the telescope and the clouds came in. At 5 I decided to cancel so I send a teacherease email out to my students. Kind of a late notice but I hoped they would spread the word. I put a note on the door just in case. I felt terrible. I should have warned them when I announced it to check their emails for any unforseen changes.
I finally got an expectorant for my cough and it seems to have helped. I have also been enjoying a beer during my evening shower. So far I've been drinking Miller High Life and last night I had a Sam Adams. No heartburn yet but man mix that with a antihistamine and reading before bed is impossible.
On my drive up the Montgomery yesterday I popped in my new Mark Knopfler CD Privateering. It is a double album. I haven't liked his last three albums so my hopes weren't too high for this one. I was pleasantly surprised. I could hear his old styles from Brothers in Arms, Golden Heart and Ragpicker's Dream plus some more blues-driven stuff.
After my appointment with Dr. Harwood, I bought some new underwear and socks (real exciting) at Target, ate a veggie burrito at Moe's (next time I am ordering a bowl of chili con queso), and bought dog food and dog bones at Earth Fare. They are great big cow cannon bones (toe bones) that Mr. B and Lucy girl love to chew the ends off. Basil was so thrilled when Susan gave him one. He pranced around and would come up to us to show it off. He whittled it down in no time.
The season premiere of Big Bang Theory started Thursday. We have it Tivoed but haven't found the right moment to watch it. So far I have enjoyed only two new shows this season: Go On and Ben & Kate. I tried the New Normal and the Mindy Kaling Project. Too preachy and too awful. Why does everyone in TV need a prestigious occupation? Why not just retail drone, office minion or service worker? After the pilot, the job part disappears pretty quickly.
We watched the season premieres of The Middle and Modern Family. Although Modern Family gets all the awards, the Middle is a much better show. The first episode of the Middle was excellent and went deep right off the bat into the family dynamic. I keep thinking about Axl playing college football. What a waste of college scholarship! He hates academics. I wonder if Frankie or Mike ever went to college? Probably not. Party on Garth!
Mid-term is next week and I am right where I want to be in biology but I am a week behind in physical science. I finish astronomy this next week and then onto rocks! I may never make it to weather. They have turned room 224 into a physics lab. It has some beautiful benches, a front lab desk and soon electrical outlets. Good news for bio since we could use it if there is ever a lab conflict.
I spent several hours Thursday afternoon and Friday morning revising the Spring semester schedule for Abbie and me. I worked it out so Abbie could teach A&P I as a traditional course instead of as a hybrid. I finally understood why Abbie teaches so many hybrids. Her family demands and commute from Greenville are complicated. I hope Mary Ann goes for it because it accomodates Abbie and is 100% better for our students.
I had one major faux pas this week. I had scheduled a stargazing activity for Tuesday night. I had checked the weather channel forecast the previous night and it said Tuesday night would be cloudy. I checked it Tuesday morning and it had changed to clear. Well, I went out at 4PM to calibrate the telescope and the clouds came in. At 5 I decided to cancel so I send a teacherease email out to my students. Kind of a late notice but I hoped they would spread the word. I put a note on the door just in case. I felt terrible. I should have warned them when I announced it to check their emails for any unforseen changes.
I finally got an expectorant for my cough and it seems to have helped. I have also been enjoying a beer during my evening shower. So far I've been drinking Miller High Life and last night I had a Sam Adams. No heartburn yet but man mix that with a antihistamine and reading before bed is impossible.
On my drive up the Montgomery yesterday I popped in my new Mark Knopfler CD Privateering. It is a double album. I haven't liked his last three albums so my hopes weren't too high for this one. I was pleasantly surprised. I could hear his old styles from Brothers in Arms, Golden Heart and Ragpicker's Dream plus some more blues-driven stuff.
After my appointment with Dr. Harwood, I bought some new underwear and socks (real exciting) at Target, ate a veggie burrito at Moe's (next time I am ordering a bowl of chili con queso), and bought dog food and dog bones at Earth Fare. They are great big cow cannon bones (toe bones) that Mr. B and Lucy girl love to chew the ends off. Basil was so thrilled when Susan gave him one. He pranced around and would come up to us to show it off. He whittled it down in no time.
The season premiere of Big Bang Theory started Thursday. We have it Tivoed but haven't found the right moment to watch it. So far I have enjoyed only two new shows this season: Go On and Ben & Kate. I tried the New Normal and the Mindy Kaling Project. Too preachy and too awful. Why does everyone in TV need a prestigious occupation? Why not just retail drone, office minion or service worker? After the pilot, the job part disappears pretty quickly.
We watched the season premieres of The Middle and Modern Family. Although Modern Family gets all the awards, the Middle is a much better show. The first episode of the Middle was excellent and went deep right off the bat into the family dynamic. I keep thinking about Axl playing college football. What a waste of college scholarship! He hates academics. I wonder if Frankie or Mike ever went to college? Probably not. Party on Garth!
Saturday, September 22, 2012
BBQ and Froyo
Today is the Autumnal Equinox and Summer is over. The Earth will be tilted away from the Sun for the next 6 months. It is time to get pasty people!
Basil and Lucy, or as I like to call her, Lemon Drop, just got me up from a food-induced nap. They are an hour early for their trek to the golf course. LD is particularly persistent using her sharp claws to poke you. Susan and I had a nice lunch at Green's BBQ just north of us in Gantt, Alabama. In a role reversal, I ordered a BBQ sandwich and onion rings off the menu while Susan hit the buffet. The BBQ was excellent and though I know better, the onion rings are great but rough off on the stomach. Susan got her fill of fried okra (I don't get the appeal myself), maters, slaw, tater salad, and scalloped taters.
Ms. Susan needed to drop off some donations at goodwill and afterward we hit the new froyo place on the square. I got lemon ice box with graham cracker sprinkles (very good) and Susan opted for strawberry with fresh strawberry. We walked around the square for a bit, staring into the old CCB building, Wards, and Timmerman building. I discovered that the Timmerman building is built of fossiliferous limestone. I found some beautiful bryozoans embedded in it.
On the drive home a katydid hitchhiked on my window. Susan tried to take a photo of it through the glass but the camera kept focusing on the landscape behind. I enjoyed watching to breathe through it s thorax and first few ab segments. We dropped it off in Susan's favorite neighborhood.
One more week of September left. I am on stars right now in PHS 111 so I will need to repair the telescopes if I am going to take them out this week. Like an idiot I discovered that we have missed the evening planet window. If you want to see Jupiter you gotta wait until the early AM. Saturn just moved to days entirely. Just the moon and stars are on tap this semester. I invented a constellation lab and tried it out Thursday. I kept wondering why the planispheres didn't match the website printout I had used. Shane the idiot thought 19 hours was 9 PM. Nope, it is only 7 so my students were struggling. I forged ahead acting like nothing was wrong. I've got to admit my error on Tuesday.
The biological imperative has been extremely persistent of late. I don't know if it is normal or due to my brain becoming med-free. It is going to get me in trouble. I am sure the BD wish from Surfbabe hasn't helped. Party on Garth!
Basil and Lucy, or as I like to call her, Lemon Drop, just got me up from a food-induced nap. They are an hour early for their trek to the golf course. LD is particularly persistent using her sharp claws to poke you. Susan and I had a nice lunch at Green's BBQ just north of us in Gantt, Alabama. In a role reversal, I ordered a BBQ sandwich and onion rings off the menu while Susan hit the buffet. The BBQ was excellent and though I know better, the onion rings are great but rough off on the stomach. Susan got her fill of fried okra (I don't get the appeal myself), maters, slaw, tater salad, and scalloped taters.
Ms. Susan needed to drop off some donations at goodwill and afterward we hit the new froyo place on the square. I got lemon ice box with graham cracker sprinkles (very good) and Susan opted for strawberry with fresh strawberry. We walked around the square for a bit, staring into the old CCB building, Wards, and Timmerman building. I discovered that the Timmerman building is built of fossiliferous limestone. I found some beautiful bryozoans embedded in it.
On the drive home a katydid hitchhiked on my window. Susan tried to take a photo of it through the glass but the camera kept focusing on the landscape behind. I enjoyed watching to breathe through it s thorax and first few ab segments. We dropped it off in Susan's favorite neighborhood.
One more week of September left. I am on stars right now in PHS 111 so I will need to repair the telescopes if I am going to take them out this week. Like an idiot I discovered that we have missed the evening planet window. If you want to see Jupiter you gotta wait until the early AM. Saturn just moved to days entirely. Just the moon and stars are on tap this semester. I invented a constellation lab and tried it out Thursday. I kept wondering why the planispheres didn't match the website printout I had used. Shane the idiot thought 19 hours was 9 PM. Nope, it is only 7 so my students were struggling. I forged ahead acting like nothing was wrong. I've got to admit my error on Tuesday.
The biological imperative has been extremely persistent of late. I don't know if it is normal or due to my brain becoming med-free. It is going to get me in trouble. I am sure the BD wish from Surfbabe hasn't helped. Party on Garth!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Virus Defense Mode
I woke up with a head cold yesterday so I didn't work or drive Montgomery for my quarterly appointment with Dr. Harwood (he's my psychiatrist who manages my depression meds). I spent most of it sleeping, sneezing and coughing in between hits of nyquil, advil and sudafed. Today I am mostly just coughing. My back is pretty sore from laying around so much.
American Airlines, after a month, found and Fedexed my bag. It was a complete surprised. I had filed a claim and was just sitting around waiting for my check when it showed up on my doorstep Thursday morning. I had replaced a few things but I was so happy to see my favorite shirts, pants and underwear. The best part were all the cool things I bought at Capitol Reef National Park: geo maps, t-shirts, postcards and a book on rock art for Susan.
Two women basketball players came by on Thursday to tell me they were from now on going to be respectful and work hard in class. I had made the mistake of threatening to talk to their coach earlier in the day. I still wonder what brought it on but I was very touched.
My first exams in bio are this coming week. It is always bittersweet. I made the mistake of looking at my afternoon 103 scores from spring semester to see how many passed: only one-third. Should I share the news? Tough call.
American Airlines, after a month, found and Fedexed my bag. It was a complete surprised. I had filed a claim and was just sitting around waiting for my check when it showed up on my doorstep Thursday morning. I had replaced a few things but I was so happy to see my favorite shirts, pants and underwear. The best part were all the cool things I bought at Capitol Reef National Park: geo maps, t-shirts, postcards and a book on rock art for Susan.
Two women basketball players came by on Thursday to tell me they were from now on going to be respectful and work hard in class. I had made the mistake of threatening to talk to their coach earlier in the day. I still wonder what brought it on but I was very touched.
My first exams in bio are this coming week. It is always bittersweet. I made the mistake of looking at my afternoon 103 scores from spring semester to see how many passed: only one-third. Should I share the news? Tough call.
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Studying the Weather
I began watching my meteorology lectures from the teaching company. You think you know something until you see someone who really understands explain it. By the end of the remaining 22 lectures I may even be able to teach my students something in the fall.
Mr. B is getting a bath today at Dr. Jones' vet clinic. I guessed his weight and I was exactly right; 87 pounds. He is also getting tested for heartworm. I hope he gets to come home soon. He looked so sad and pitiful in the car when he realized where he was going this morning. It will be several days before he gets to smelling good again. Nothing like that wonderful dog smell to make one happy.
My favorite war movie is "A Bridge Too Far" that was made back in the 1970's. Everyone and their cat are in that movie: Robert Redford, Michael Caine, James Caan, Anthony Hopkins, etc. It is the story of a huge airborne mission into occupied Holland in the Fall of 1944. The mission failed. I had been reading several military history books (The Crimean War, WWI and WWII) and so I thought I would try reading the story behind my favorite war movie. The book is excellent and I am pleased to say the movie was accurate.
Mr. B is getting a bath today at Dr. Jones' vet clinic. I guessed his weight and I was exactly right; 87 pounds. He is also getting tested for heartworm. I hope he gets to come home soon. He looked so sad and pitiful in the car when he realized where he was going this morning. It will be several days before he gets to smelling good again. Nothing like that wonderful dog smell to make one happy.
My favorite war movie is "A Bridge Too Far" that was made back in the 1970's. Everyone and their cat are in that movie: Robert Redford, Michael Caine, James Caan, Anthony Hopkins, etc. It is the story of a huge airborne mission into occupied Holland in the Fall of 1944. The mission failed. I had been reading several military history books (The Crimean War, WWI and WWII) and so I thought I would try reading the story behind my favorite war movie. The book is excellent and I am pleased to say the movie was accurate.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Part-timer
After a wonderful lunch at Sugar Rush (a great little coffee place downtown that makes wonderous sandwiches) with Susan, I actually went to my office. I had a nice long visit with Brian about my Pennsylvania trip and he told me about his wife's snakebite ordeal. She was bit on the pinky by a copperhead and spent two days in ICU to monitor the swelling. She is mending well at home but she stills has some numbness.
I wrote a letter of recommendation for a former student. They are easier when the students are excellent. I cleared my email, copied all my astronomy powerpoints and brought the book home. Trying to organize my schedule to get into work has proved difficult so I am going to try to work at home so B will have one to hang with.
I am soaked with sweat. Rain showers have been off and on for the last few days and although the sun is out right now, the humidity is high. Nothing is drying out. I started watching a great documentary last night on street art called "Exit through the gift shop". So far it is excellent. That reminds me I have a article to pass on to Misty, our art instructor at school. Boldly go!
I wrote a letter of recommendation for a former student. They are easier when the students are excellent. I cleared my email, copied all my astronomy powerpoints and brought the book home. Trying to organize my schedule to get into work has proved difficult so I am going to try to work at home so B will have one to hang with.
I am soaked with sweat. Rain showers have been off and on for the last few days and although the sun is out right now, the humidity is high. Nothing is drying out. I started watching a great documentary last night on street art called "Exit through the gift shop". So far it is excellent. That reminds me I have a article to pass on to Misty, our art instructor at school. Boldly go!
Thursday, June 7, 2012
The Ranchhand
After two weeks of sightseeing through Pennsylvania, I am back home. So far I have seriously loafed and napped every day. Now comes the big trial. How much class prep will I get done before August? They have me teaching physical science. I haven't taught a full on lecture version of that class in a couple of years. Right now I have ridiculous goals: students reading outside of class, term papers, me happy teaching an 8 o'clock class. Based on past experience I know I will only accomplish about a third of my list.
I realized a few days ago that the Olympics start Friday July 27th. I got a little panicky since I will be out with Brent and Caroline in Utah next month. Luckily I will be home for the Opening Ceremonies. The Track and Field events are my favorites especially the 5K, 10K and marathons. Meb is running again this year. London should make for some fast times.
I realized a few days ago that the Olympics start Friday July 27th. I got a little panicky since I will be out with Brent and Caroline in Utah next month. Luckily I will be home for the Opening Ceremonies. The Track and Field events are my favorites especially the 5K, 10K and marathons. Meb is running again this year. London should make for some fast times.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)