Circling up.
This week was all about the Blackboard Sampler course. I feel like I’m running the same circle on a track but on each pass through something changes so maybe more like one of those big parking lots where I’m actually moving up a level on each go around. I did not get enough done this week but I keep adding so things are happening. There were a couple of Ultra related changes that involved taking some things out and then putting them back in again. It will come together – it IS coming together. I’m just very conscious of the way time is flying. I had hoped for something more polished by today.
I had a walk through of the course with Liesel on Monday- always good to have another set of eyes. As the week wore on and new projects came up I got a better sense of how I will create continuity, or, patterns for certain types of information. I hit low energy mid-week so fortunately I had some mechanical things to do that didn’t require a lot of creative thinking.
I had a good chat with Geoff about student issues with Blackboard and they are mostly due to what sounds like poor organization and that is helpful to know. Also got to have tea and work chats with Margaret a couple of times. We have some sessions to plan for January. The ‘Foundations’ as I’m calling it right now, of good (online – I know we haven’t been using that word) course design is the first part of the sampler course and I think it’s something I can turn into a session quite easily, and it sounds like it would be useful to a lot of people. We’ve been talking about some of the ITC Lilly sessions and can see where some of those can be worked in as well – all the while conscious that this break won’t be much of a break for many who still have to re-adjust courses.
There was some good talk about new and upcoming projects to support faculty. I have some write ups for sessions to do and we are holding interviews next week for a new CTLI person. Lots going on. I laughed when I saw a tweet by Martin Weller – paraphrasing – “I keep cavalierly saying ‘let’s take that up in the New Year’ with no regard for my future self”. I feel like that’s what next week is going to be like for me – SO MUCH TO DO! but it’s all good. Better to have a full plate. I am starting to really look forward to the Christmas break. It’s going to be weird but we will make the best of it.