. Spinning .

Michael Arnzen at Pedablogue has a great post on the overabundance of student e-mail, and links to a few more great insight sites into this relatively new form of student-teacher communication.  I realize that I am quite dependent upon e-mail with some of the professors in my courses, and oddly enough, thought that weblogging would take care of some of the "shoulda said that in class" problems that less vocal students tend to carry out of the classrooms with them unspoken.  But the ability to e-mail the instructor can be an abuse of privilege, and in fact, conflict with the basic notion of learning social skills and participation in the classroom. 

Steve Ersinghaus, of the Great Lettuce Head is also questioning the educational environment, and the necessity of "homework" or work done outside of the classroom, as brought up by a new trend in teaching that is experimental at a particular instituion.  This is something that centuries of children have prayed for, hoping someone would come up with eliminating homework.  What prevents us from thinking it is a good idea, may often come out of the "well, we had to do it, so can they" attitude and this thinking must be put aside to really look at the question of its value versus classroom teaching with the hope that students will go further on their own initiative. 

Meanwhile, Dennis Jerz at Jerz’s Literary Weblog is following a trail of thought that provides feedback by student opinion and self-evaluation.

For an inside look at what goes on in a classroom, the Moebius Stripper at Tall, Dark and Mysterious gives some humorous (and I’m sure aggravating) instances of what instructors deal with daily.

All of these show a continuing interest in improving the educational system, especially in view of computer technology and what it can and cannot offer students.  Quite an important quest; quite a necessary delving into the learning habits of both the successful and unsuccessful student.

Yes, trepidation is the word.  I don’t know why, but I’m dreading Monday, the first day of classes.  I, who have my switchblade and come-on act down as pat as my Buster Brown rendition am afraid.  I like the courses, and they should be interesting and one in particular should be exciting–the writing course, of course, but I’m still nervous as a kindergartener about facing life as a student among my peers.  It’s not the instructors that make me anxious, I’ve had both before and they don’t hit you with rulers like the nuns used to do.  It’s not the students; even though I’m much older usually than most, oldest upon occasion, I don’t feel out of place anymore after four years among them. 

What then?  The challenge of being up to the testing?  Perhaps it is a bit of that–one does get tired of repeatedly having to prove oneself and be graded on effort.  But I think it’s just the change, the lack of having Powerpoint’s ability to do a 6-second fade in.  I’m a clinger to rocks, and tend to settle in comfortably until I’m poked out with a stick.  Today I’m a picture framer, on Monday, I’ll be a student.  Then in a few more months, I’ll be a graduate.  Then maybe, just maybe, a formal student again.

My friend, Neha, was here for lunch today, and she is heading back to Seton Hill on Sunday.  This upheaval after being home for five weeks (with her mom’s great cooking!) must be even harder to transition.  But we move on, as we must, in order to find that settling-in place that we may need or want.  I think I’ve just settled in a rut too long, got too comfy, and need to go out and seek some more.

Well that was no fun at all.  Standing in a line for fifteen minutes before the window even opened up.  No patience, and that is what will do me in in the end.  After two months of waiting for an answer from the powers that be, a graduation application and $33 is all I need to walk the walk.  I went to the bookstore instead and bought the books I need for Western Civ; Candide, and Good-bye to All That by Robert Graves along with mandatory text of course. 

Maneuvering out of one line into another was a choice of paths, and one I do suspect was not as well thought out.  For while I beat the line ahead of me to the bookstore, I’m sure I will forget or miss the opportunity in the less than 10 days left to me now, to get the forms, pay the man, and graduate come May.