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Take Me With You
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Online Teaching Evaluations
I may dislike grades, but the university — and I — want to know what you think about the class. This is very important. I restructure my classes each semester based upon the feedback that you give me — and the university uses your feedback to evaluate me as a teacher.
I know it’s not your favorite part of school, but it’s very helpful for us to make sure that you’re getting the kind of education that you need. So…this year, student evaluations are online. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey. It’s confidential. You’re name isn’t attached to any form you fill out.
If you have questions, please let me know. Otherwise…
Summer Student Projects
Hey all:
I’m working on a joint project with Howard Rheingold, who is teaching at Stanford and Berkeley. We’re developing a Wiki source for educators who don’t know how social media works, but who might want to include the technology in their classrooms.
As part of this, we are working on three areas that could use a little student muscle. I’m willing (if you are) to have them sign up as an independent study project, directed by Howard and I. Two of the jobs require some technical knowledge, but one of them doesn’t. So…if you have some good students, please send them on the way.
The three tasks:
- We need a DRUPAL programmer for a project (more details on this on Monday. We’re developing a content management system for publishing.)
- We’re doing a series of videos/screen-by-screen captures to explain not only what each individual technology is, but how it works. Ideally, we need someone with some video experience. We can kludge through the screen capture software – and I (or the student) will do the on-camera videos.
- We’re developing a comprehensive list of syllabi and social media technologies. We need someone who is smart and organized, who can help us gather up all this info.
ANYWAY…
If you have students who are interested, this Social Media classroom will launch in August at Berkeley and Stanford. We’re developing a companion course here at NKU (set for Spring 2009), where our classes will collaborate on projects.
Thanks.
End of Line.
Class Tonight
Hey all:
I’m having a bit of a medical issue today. I have to go to the heart doctor (I promise that it’s not related to your writing), and the tests are going to take up a fair amount of my evening.
The bad news: no class. The good news: lots of sitting around, which means you can send me your writing today. I’ll edit - and if you include your phone number, I’ll send it back and we can discuss on the phone.
And, if I happen to have a heart attack and keel, just know that another teacher will grade your work. So no slacking.
Tuesday
Hey all:
Most of you have your first game finished. On Tuesday, we’re going to do a debrief — which means I need everyone here. Please bring your paperwork for game one (if you haven’t turned it in) and your outline for game two (the same as game one, character sketch, map, ect).
Also, I’ll be posting instructions for the debrief — but essentially, I need you to bring a written document — bullet points are fine — of what went wrong with the first game, solutions you came up with and how you overcame obstacles.
For the second game, you’ll need to include a written list of programming issues you had (when you couldn’t get something to work) and what you did to overcome that (IOW, how did you solve the problem).
Thanks.
MIN 252: No Meeting Today
Hey kiddies:
We won’t meet today so that you can work directly on your games. We’re down to it - so you should be finishing game one (with all the related materials) and working on the outline for game two.
If you have questions, you can text me — or email me. We’ll get back together on Tuesday.
I’ll be in lab tonight as well.
When You Turn In Your Game
Please turn in the game 
and
- Interactive story pitch
- Character Sketch
- Internal Conflict sketch
- Map
The map should serve as my walk-through — although if you have additional instructions, that works as well.
Grades
I have all your materials graded now. You will get everything back on Tuesday. If you’re interested in your grade at the moment — I can tell you that.
There are still 200 points (just less than half) left in the class, which means what you grade is still volatile.
The rough outline of what went wrong:
- Exam issues: attribution, story elements (and spacing)
- Stories: body grafs
Most of you are not failing. If you want to know your grade before class, email me. Otherwise, tomorrow…
Lab Hours, Week of April 7
I’ll be out of town this Friday attending an event in San Francisco; however, the lab should be over. Please sign up for times here.
No Class or Lab Tonight
Hey JOU’ers:
There’s no class this evening, but I’ll be online to check out your writing before I leave tomorrow. If you have a draft (remember, you only get 2), send it along. I’ll have Internet until 2 pm.
Also, no lab hours this evening, but the lab should be open all day tomorrow.