Teaching, Learning, Blogging

Well, we had the workshop this morning . . . for SIX students, two of which were not even registered for the laptop course. Sigh.

The archives should contain more detail about my efforts to make sure students were aware that the course would include laptops and the workshop.

I created the flyer and talked to the faculty facilitators during the July orientation, and I sent an email with the flyer attached to the entire campus for the August registration period. Nonetheless, apparently, only four students received the information. On the other hand, at least two students received misinformation. I suppose I should take solace in that, eh. I'm convinced that the lack of organizational communication is at the heart of the difficulties in getting new programs off the ground. Perhaps this is most true on a college campus in which so many people operate only within their personal sphere of knowledge/expertise. Thinking back, this was also true several years ago when we were beginning the rising junior writing portfolio. At least now I have a better understanding of the frustrations experienced by the advisement office.

I spoke with David A. late this afternoon and his experience with the four students this morning has him convinced that the semester is on the verge of disaster from a support perspective. I'm still at least somewhat optimistic. I've tried to create the syllabus in anticipation of problems surfacing near the beginning of the semester (e.g. the portfolio approach, in which the final evaluation of the students' work occurs at the end of the semester). We'll see how long my optimism lasts.

The semester begins tomorrow.