George is going to be in Chicago briefly and contacted me and another SF writer friend about getting together for dinner. I, greatly daring, asked whether he might also be willing to stop by UIC and chat with my students. He said yes, which is awfully sweet of him to squeeze into his tight schedule. […]
I think their heads might actually explode. Read More »
My Blackboard IT problem is finally fixed, by a very nice student worker who came to my office and was very patient. It was somewhat my fault that it wasn’t fixed faster — apparently, I submitted a ticket to the ‘BIG’ IT department, instead of my college IT department. Although you’d think they could’ve told
Glad I can e-mail my students again Read More »
Gah — my mind is a sieve. There’s an author, who writes very short stories mostly (or possibly entirely?) in dialogue. I’m pretty sure he’s male, and I keep wanting to say it’s Donald Barthelme, but I don’t think it is, but maybe it’s a similar name? Help? I’m teaching dialogue in class today, and
Who am I thinking of, here? Read More »
Thinking about yesterday’s post about e-learning — I didn’t say this in the original post, but on sleeping on it all and considering the comments in the various parent groups I also posted in, I’ll also note that I suspect many of us (if not all of us) are also dealing with unresolved trauma from
This is where I start daydreaming about Sweden Read More »
I’m teaching a new course this semester, a 200-level speculative literature class, and I’m focusing it on fantasy. (I did SF last semester). Thought some of you might like to read along — I may post notes occasionally. So far, I think the students are liking the material, but a bit bewildered by the juxtaposition
New course, new material Read More »
Sigh — my car won’t be repaired until tomorrow, and I was going to take the train in, but tech issues delayed me enough this morning that I had to get an Uber instead, to make it in time for the first day of classes. Apparently it’s going to be THAT kind of semester.
It’s going to be THAT kind of semester. Read More »
Got to love it when the system locks you out the day before the first day of classes, so you can’t check to see how many students are registered or how many copies of the first day materials you’re going to need. I also can’t e-mail the students a digital copy of the syllabus. SIGH.
Weirdly mopey for most of today. I think it’s end-of-semester blues. You’d think that would make me happy, to turn in grades and be on vacation, but there’s something about finishing a big project, even one you desperately want to finish — it leaves a gap. At least I got to send off some sweets
End-of-Semester Blues Read More »
Grades are in, with only one missing paper that hopefully they’ll get to me before their Incomplete turns into an F. Everyone else managed to get their work in and do a decent job with it, but many of my students are clearly still struggling. It’s a good thing I only have two small classes,
Still Seeing Pandemic Effects Read More »
I’m having the students choose one novella each from this list and briefly present on it the last day of class. Thanks to everyone who suggested novellas when I asked previously – I did leave off some suggestions when I was completely unfamiliar with them. All of these, I’ve either read and enjoyed, or read
To finish off my Intro to SF class Read More »
