You’d think that once classes are over for the semester, life settles down in academia. Alas, not so much. Course grades are due Friday, and I have a knee-high stack of final papers I’m digging through.
On the plus side, today is graduation, and I get to wear the spiffy robes. Perhaps it’ll grow old some day, but not yet.
Don’t get me wrong, after years of being a nomadic adjunct, I’m thrilled to be a tenure-track faculty member with an office of my own… even if it’s a very small office that has no natural light. Fortunately, there’s all sorts of other interesting, better lit, and spacious spots to work on campus.
I spent much of today camped out in the student center, drinking coffee and grading papers. Not bad, not bad at all.
(Photo: looking up from today’s work perch.)
I’d rather be out, swinging in the hammock. But there’s a stack of papers that need grading and work to be done.
Well it’s been a fugly day–full of rain and a cold wind–so indoor adventure was in order. Fortunately, it was Nanotechnology Day at the Maryland Science Center, which is handy, because I’ve already decided that Ben has a future career as a nano-engineer.
There’s a lot to like about the Maryland Science Center, except for one glaring omission: the social and behavioral sciences. News flash: science is an epistemological stance, related to scientific method and not a particular subject of inquiry. Duh. And so, nifty as the Maryland Science Center is, Amsterdam’s NEMO Science Center–which includes a terrific section on the social sciences–remains my favorite.
(I’m trying to get back into the habit of taking at least one photo a day. This is the view of inner harbor from the center.)
Wherein I publicly pat myself on the back…
1. Received my copy of the article just published in the International Review of Education. And, thanks to its UNESCO connection, enjoyed getting to read my abstract translated into five languages.
2. Got back terrific teaching evaluations from last semester in (drum roll please) my graduate research methods course. As far as I’m concerned, research methods is the Everest of teaching evaluations.
3. Built a new website to support an upcoming academic conference from scratch, using a backend (Joomla) that I didn’t have any prior experience with. Nifty bonus: upgraded its forums and added a facebook-like user community for professional networking.
When writing to apply to a graduate program, do not use “u” to abbreviate “you” and “ur” to abbreviate “your.” I know, it seems obvious. And yet…
(Yes, really.)
Also, does anything seem vague or flexible about this deadline, given at the start of the semester:
“You are required to complete your internship hours and submit (1) your internship paper, (2) the log of your internship hours, and (3) your evaluation form by December 5th, 2008.
The internship course is only offered pass/fail, and incomplete is not an option, so I want to be sure you’re aware of the consequences of missing the December 5 deadline: students who do not complete their internship hours and submit the required material by December 5 will receive a failing grade for the course.”
I ask, because just a day or two before the deadline approached, several students mentioned their plan to miss the deadline and be granted an extension as if it were no big deal.
I love teaching and respect and appreciate my students, but sometimes the antics get to be a bit much.
From the latest British Journal of Sociology, “Ignorance as an under-identified social problem.”
I’m running a simulation of the UN Security Council as part of the final exam in my undergraduate course on global conflict.
Flags: $40.
Table tent paper for placards: $5
Having a student remark about a final exam that, “you know, this is actually kind of fun”: priceless
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