Three weeks left!

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Nothing like a big virtual pile of grading to make me feel like updating my blog! I have not been very good about blogging this semester, but I've been busy with lots of other interesting things (like revising a paper and submitting a proposal). Signs that the semester is winding down:
  • I just gave the third exam in my GEO 121 (Physical Geography) class yesterday, so that just leaves the last one (which is taken on final exam day) and
  • I only have two more class meetings with my GEO 333 (Natural Hazards) class (it meets once a week and we don't have class Thanksgiving week).
Before this is all over, I will have a lot of grading to finish (bibliographies for GEO 121, final papers for both classes) and then it will be winter break. Over break I need to work. I am considering some changes to GEO 121 (see below) and have to make those decisions before classes start. I also have two other classes and one is a new prep. I am teaching a remote sensing seminar for the first time and need to figure out how to run things. The class will be based on reading and discussing articles, but I need to figure out topics, select articles, and decide on assignments.

In GEO 121 there are two definite changes coming: a new edition of the textbook and using a new learning management system. I've been using Strahler and Strahler (4th Edition), but am making the switch to the newer edition next semester. The book has changed, so I will have to revise slides and decide what to update. For the second change, I volunteered to be part of the pilot for Miami's switch to Sakai from Blackboard. That will also involve a lot of time moving material to the new site and deciding how to organize it. The last change I am considering is to make the class more interactive (during lecture time) by using team-based learning. It seems like a great alternative to straight lecture and I think it could make the class more interesting and enjoyable for the students. It also looks like a lot of work and I'm a little reluctant to dive in with all the other changes to that class PLUS the new prep, so we'll see. I may just implement a few parts of it- putting students into assigned groups to make my current in-class activities more organized. That might be a good way to test some things and decide if I want to make a full-fledged change next fall.

And, things will be even crazier next semester if our grant proposal to Ohio Board of Regents is funded. If it is, I will also be planning and organizing a summer workshop for 30 K12 teachers! We'll hear in January.

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