Saturday was the last day of classes for the western campus of Simmons GSLIS. I handed back the last homework assignment, the students finished giving their oral presentations, and they also completed posting to the discussion board.
Today, I reviewed my notes on the oral presentations and calculated the final grades, which I submitted. Several students asked for feedback on their oral presentations, so I wrote a brief review for each one and sent it to them via email along with their final grade.
Now what am I going to do on Saturdays (and Thursdays, my prep day) for the next 4 months? I'm sure I can think of something.
Showing posts with label Simmons GSLIS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simmons GSLIS. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Thursday, September 6, 2012
First Day of School
It doesn't matter if it's second grade, high school, or college; if you're a student or the teacher, the First Day of School still feels like the First Day of School.
Tonight, I teach the first class of the fall semester of Information Organization. There are 13 students enrolled - a nice size. It's large enough for variety and discussion, but small enough that I should be able to learn everyone's name in a couple of weeks and not be overwhelmed when I grade papers.
This will be my 4th time teaching the course. I had really become comfortable using eLearning (aka Blackboard) and recently figured out a bunch of neat features when Simmons decided to switch to Moodle. I spent a few weeks last month copying and pasting materials from one to the other. Moodle isn't as pretty as eLearning, but maybe I just haven't found how to add interesting colors and designs.
This morning I finished revising the slides and lecture notes for tonight's class and just uploaded the slides to Moodle under Unit 1. I have the hard copies I need, several files on a flash drive to print at the GSLIS-west office before class, the props I'll be using for an organization exercise, my water bottle and a snack. I'm ready to go!
Tonight, I teach the first class of the fall semester of Information Organization. There are 13 students enrolled - a nice size. It's large enough for variety and discussion, but small enough that I should be able to learn everyone's name in a couple of weeks and not be overwhelmed when I grade papers.
This will be my 4th time teaching the course. I had really become comfortable using eLearning (aka Blackboard) and recently figured out a bunch of neat features when Simmons decided to switch to Moodle. I spent a few weeks last month copying and pasting materials from one to the other. Moodle isn't as pretty as eLearning, but maybe I just haven't found how to add interesting colors and designs.
This morning I finished revising the slides and lecture notes for tonight's class and just uploaded the slides to Moodle under Unit 1. I have the hard copies I need, several files on a flash drive to print at the GSLIS-west office before class, the props I'll be using for an organization exercise, my water bottle and a snack. I'm ready to go!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Getting Beyond Hurdles
I've been very anxious for the last month.
We bought a new computer and, by default, I'm the tech person in my household. I put off setting it up as long as I could because I just couldn't face something going wrong. It's finally set up along with the new printer and most everything is working okay. The computer came with Windows 7 so we're learning the ins and outs of a new operating system.
And there was the LIS415 Organization of Information, the course I agreed to teach at Simmons-West. As I've stated in earlier posts, this is a new level of teaching for me: Graduate students, an entire semester, having to give tests and grading them. It is all very different from a single 3-hour Continuing Education program. I actually began to visualize having a complete meltdown in the class. Fortunately, I was able to banish the ANTs, and remind myself that I'm an experienced teacher, that I have many years as a cataloger, and that I'm an accomplished professional. While this class is new and different, it's definitely within my range of competencies. My first class was last Saturday, January 29 and it went well. The students are intelligent, curious, and totally open to participating in and out of class. I also have a lot of support from other faculty and tech staff.
Part of what was worrying me about LIS415 was learning how to use Simmons eLearning product. All course information is available to the students via eLearning and there's a lot to it including my learning how to add items, edit items, monitor discussion lists, send emails to my entire group of students. Now that my anxiety level has lessened, I've been able to explore eLearning more calmly and I've done several things with it, including sending an email to the whole class.
I still have the rest of the semester ahead of me, but the hurdles look much lower from here. I'm look forward to fewer sleepless nights.
We bought a new computer and, by default, I'm the tech person in my household. I put off setting it up as long as I could because I just couldn't face something going wrong. It's finally set up along with the new printer and most everything is working okay. The computer came with Windows 7 so we're learning the ins and outs of a new operating system.
And there was the LIS415 Organization of Information, the course I agreed to teach at Simmons-West. As I've stated in earlier posts, this is a new level of teaching for me: Graduate students, an entire semester, having to give tests and grading them. It is all very different from a single 3-hour Continuing Education program. I actually began to visualize having a complete meltdown in the class. Fortunately, I was able to banish the ANTs, and remind myself that I'm an experienced teacher, that I have many years as a cataloger, and that I'm an accomplished professional. While this class is new and different, it's definitely within my range of competencies. My first class was last Saturday, January 29 and it went well. The students are intelligent, curious, and totally open to participating in and out of class. I also have a lot of support from other faculty and tech staff.
Part of what was worrying me about LIS415 was learning how to use Simmons eLearning product. All course information is available to the students via eLearning and there's a lot to it including my learning how to add items, edit items, monitor discussion lists, send emails to my entire group of students. Now that my anxiety level has lessened, I've been able to explore eLearning more calmly and I've done several things with it, including sending an email to the whole class.
I still have the rest of the semester ahead of me, but the hurdles look much lower from here. I'm look forward to fewer sleepless nights.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
OMG! What Have I Done?
I've been hired to teach LS 415, Organization of Information, at Simmons GSLIS-west beginning in the spring semester. My first class is January 29 - a mere two months away. I've signed all of the paperwork and am now receiving emails about ordering textbooks and putting books on reserve.
What have I gotten myself into? I've taught before - for many years - but never at this level. I'm starting to have nightmares. How will I do this? Rather, how will I do this well? I don't want to shortchange the students; they've paid a lot of money to take this course. And I certainly don't want to embarrass myself.
I know I'll have a lot of support from the GSLIS office and from the people who have taught this course before me. Still, it's scary.
For years I've been doing a lot of cruising. I've been a cataloger for a very long time and I have a lot of experience. I know what I'm doing. But sometimes I have to stretch like when I began working on the Digital Treasures project with C/W MARS. I learned Dublin Core, not only well enough to use it, but also well enough to teach it. That was a stretch, but nothing like what I'll be doing for Simmons.
I can be pretty lazy, but if I want to teach this course and do a good job I'm going to have to get serious. I've been very good these last few months exercising my body and getting it into much better shape. Now it's time to banish those ANTs and exercise my mind.
Things for which to be grateful:
1. I'll get to learn how to use Moodle;
2. I'll meet lots of new and interesting people;
3. I'll be working on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country;
4. I'll be receiving a steady income (although not enough to live on);
5. I'll have more structure in my life (something I actually miss).
I have a great opportunity ahead of me. OMG!
What have I gotten myself into? I've taught before - for many years - but never at this level. I'm starting to have nightmares. How will I do this? Rather, how will I do this well? I don't want to shortchange the students; they've paid a lot of money to take this course. And I certainly don't want to embarrass myself.
I know I'll have a lot of support from the GSLIS office and from the people who have taught this course before me. Still, it's scary.
For years I've been doing a lot of cruising. I've been a cataloger for a very long time and I have a lot of experience. I know what I'm doing. But sometimes I have to stretch like when I began working on the Digital Treasures project with C/W MARS. I learned Dublin Core, not only well enough to use it, but also well enough to teach it. That was a stretch, but nothing like what I'll be doing for Simmons.
I can be pretty lazy, but if I want to teach this course and do a good job I'm going to have to get serious. I've been very good these last few months exercising my body and getting it into much better shape. Now it's time to banish those ANTs and exercise my mind.
Things for which to be grateful:
1. I'll get to learn how to use Moodle;
2. I'll meet lots of new and interesting people;
3. I'll be working on one of the most beautiful campuses in the country;
4. I'll be receiving a steady income (although not enough to live on);
5. I'll have more structure in my life (something I actually miss).
I have a great opportunity ahead of me. OMG!
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
An Independent Consultant
A few weeks ago I taught a continuing education workshop for MLS. Assistant Director Carolyn Noah introduced me to the group as an Independent Consultant.
Until that point, I'd considered myself an unemployed librarian looking for a full-time, benefitted position and picking up odd jobs in the meantime. However, these "odd jobs" are increasing in frequency and perhaps my destiny is to be an Independent Consultant.
Overall, the life is pretty good. For the last few months, I've been working one or two days every week for a variety of organizations: MLS; Conn. State Library; Donohue Group, Inc.; and Springfield City Library. Recently I finalized plans for a consulting project with a public library in Massachusetts that wants to re-organize its Technical Services department and yesterday I received the paperwork to be appointed adjunct faculty at Simmons GSLIS-west starting with the spring semester. I'll be teaching LIS 415, Organization of Information.
While the money is not what I was earning as a full-time consultant with CMRLS, I love the variety. I do have to keep track of my schedule, though, and pay attention to where I'm supposed to be for the next few weeks as some of these gigs (e.g. the CE workshops) require preparation. That requires me to develop some new skills - or more accurately to sharpen skills I already have.
The major down side to all of this is that LIS 415 meets on Saturday afternoon - at the same time the opera is broadcast on WFCR. I love classical music and I look forward to the opera every Saturday. I'll miss hearing the arias and learning about the composers and performers. You can be sure I'll treasure listening for the next several weeks until classes start in January.
Until that point, I'd considered myself an unemployed librarian looking for a full-time, benefitted position and picking up odd jobs in the meantime. However, these "odd jobs" are increasing in frequency and perhaps my destiny is to be an Independent Consultant.
Overall, the life is pretty good. For the last few months, I've been working one or two days every week for a variety of organizations: MLS; Conn. State Library; Donohue Group, Inc.; and Springfield City Library. Recently I finalized plans for a consulting project with a public library in Massachusetts that wants to re-organize its Technical Services department and yesterday I received the paperwork to be appointed adjunct faculty at Simmons GSLIS-west starting with the spring semester. I'll be teaching LIS 415, Organization of Information.
While the money is not what I was earning as a full-time consultant with CMRLS, I love the variety. I do have to keep track of my schedule, though, and pay attention to where I'm supposed to be for the next few weeks as some of these gigs (e.g. the CE workshops) require preparation. That requires me to develop some new skills - or more accurately to sharpen skills I already have.
The major down side to all of this is that LIS 415 meets on Saturday afternoon - at the same time the opera is broadcast on WFCR. I love classical music and I look forward to the opera every Saturday. I'll miss hearing the arias and learning about the composers and performers. You can be sure I'll treasure listening for the next several weeks until classes start in January.
Monday, November 8, 2010
A Dead Car
I knew it was going to happen in the near future. I was just hoping it could hold out for a little while longer. My 2000 Subaru Impreza with 245,000 miles is dead. A new(er) car was next on my "to buy" list when I learned that I was getting laid off from CMRLS.
At least the car had the good manners to die not too far from home. I wasn't out of state or going 70 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I was pulling into a parking lot at UMass/Amherst in the early afternoon when the engine shrieked and stopped running. I had planned to carpool with some people to a meeting in Boston, but that was not to be. They went without me.
I called AAA and a tow truck with a very nice driver took me and my car to the Subaru dealer in Northampton. From there, the dealer's chauffeur service brought me home. Today I learned that the car is beyond repair. Now I need to buy a car. How?
Can I get financing with no job? I have savings, but not enough for a decent car and I was planning to use those savings to pay the mortgage and utilities and things like that. Is this the time to dip into my IRA? Lots of questions to ask before I find any answers.
Periodically I wish I lived closer to town and near mass transportation. This is one of those times. Living in the Hatfield hills (yes, Hatfield has hills) I'm totally dependant on a car. Even my newspaper box is 1/2 mile away.
The good news (and there is good news) is that I've been hired as adjunct faculty in the Simmons GSLIS satellite program at Mount Holyoke College. I'll be teaching Organization of Information. I start in the spring - as long as I have a car to get me to So. Hadley.
At least the car had the good manners to die not too far from home. I wasn't out of state or going 70 mph in the left lane of the Mass Pike. I was pulling into a parking lot at UMass/Amherst in the early afternoon when the engine shrieked and stopped running. I had planned to carpool with some people to a meeting in Boston, but that was not to be. They went without me.
I called AAA and a tow truck with a very nice driver took me and my car to the Subaru dealer in Northampton. From there, the dealer's chauffeur service brought me home. Today I learned that the car is beyond repair. Now I need to buy a car. How?
Can I get financing with no job? I have savings, but not enough for a decent car and I was planning to use those savings to pay the mortgage and utilities and things like that. Is this the time to dip into my IRA? Lots of questions to ask before I find any answers.
Periodically I wish I lived closer to town and near mass transportation. This is one of those times. Living in the Hatfield hills (yes, Hatfield has hills) I'm totally dependant on a car. Even my newspaper box is 1/2 mile away.
The good news (and there is good news) is that I've been hired as adjunct faculty in the Simmons GSLIS satellite program at Mount Holyoke College. I'll be teaching Organization of Information. I start in the spring - as long as I have a car to get me to So. Hadley.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Bits 'n' Pieces
I've been pretty busy lately, working one or two days most weeks. I've been cataloging music CDs at the Springfield City Library, teaching workshops for the Connecticut State Library and the Massachusetts Library System, and my former employer Donohue Group, Inc. (2001-2005) asked me to work on a cataloging project. I worked one day for them last week and am scheduled for 2 more days over the next 3 weeks. I may also become an adjunct faculty member for Simmons GSLIS-west. It looks as if I'll be teaching LIS 415, Organization of Information beginning spring 2011 at the Mt. Holyoke College campus.
My life feels somewhat scattered, but not so much that I feel frantic. I just need to check my calendar regularly so that I know to what I've committed myself and where I'm supposed to be on any given day. Also included in the schedule are meetings related to the Hatfield Board of Library Trustees, Hatfield Public Library Building Committee and the Friends of UMass/Amherst Libraries. Whew! How do people work full time and get anything else done! :-)
Because I'm not working full time, I still log on weekly to the website for the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development to claim my benefits. But something has changed in the last few weeks. Instead of taking 20 to 60 minutes to complete my claim (there's lots of waiting between pages), I've been able to finish the process in just 2-3 minutes. What happened? Has everyone found a job but me?
My life feels somewhat scattered, but not so much that I feel frantic. I just need to check my calendar regularly so that I know to what I've committed myself and where I'm supposed to be on any given day. Also included in the schedule are meetings related to the Hatfield Board of Library Trustees, Hatfield Public Library Building Committee and the Friends of UMass/Amherst Libraries. Whew! How do people work full time and get anything else done! :-)
Because I'm not working full time, I still log on weekly to the website for the Massachusetts Department of Workforce Development to claim my benefits. But something has changed in the last few weeks. Instead of taking 20 to 60 minutes to complete my claim (there's lots of waiting between pages), I've been able to finish the process in just 2-3 minutes. What happened? Has everyone found a job but me?
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