Hello from my house,

It is a mite bit colder than it was in Northern California, but it is nice to be home nonetheless. Not long after I finished the last post (within hours), I lost the hard drive on my tablet. That started a week where I had either no, or limping, computer access. I did have most things backed up, but I did lose some things and I have to speak to the D2L admin people tomorrow to find out if I can get back what I have out on the server, or more appropriately, what is the easiest or most efficient way to get access to those things.

I am tired today. I think I have finally unwound. I have actually been in bed by around 10 or so. That is pretty early. I would like to try to maintain that schedule and see if I can actually sleep more and get more work done during the day. I think I also need to finally get intentionally about doing more exercise. This fat-toad existence needs to change. I think some serious walking would be advisable. I did enjoy California and mostly hearing more about the wines and what goes on . . . it is such an interesting thing.

As I head into another semester, it is always excitement and some nervousness. I have more work to do because again I have changed things. I do that for both my sake and the sake of my students, but it is always to some extent a new prep. That takes more time and thought. There was an interesting article on grade inflation at the post-secondary level in the St. Paul Pioneer today. It caused me to think, but one of the issues raised was this consumerism idea of education and how that affects the grading process. Indeed, so many think they are owed a grade or that merely coming to class and being present constitutes an A. From where did that thought originate and what has caused it to be, what seems to be, a predominant attitude? I try to take that issue on from the get-go, but we have given so much power to everyone but the faculty person (and that is particularly the case for those who are academic staff or not yet tenured). Just this past week I received the following:

" . . . the students themselves, the millenials, are different-technologically hyperconnected, highly confident multi-taskers who have little patience for traditional lectures and classrooms. And why should they? . . . "

First of all, I think this should have been cited by whomever the author was . . .  second . . .  I am not sure I agree with either part of this statement, and third, it would seem that the previous passage, which I quoted, makes some sweeping genreralizations that I do not see in all of my students. However, I do agree that the present classroom constituency creates complex challenges. Indeed, according to the statistics currently available, this generation is only exceeded in number by the boomers (Deloitte). Certainly they are more techo saavy than their predecessors, but there are still things to learn. But learning is mutual . . .  and therefore respect for the learning process needs to be mutual. This is where I find the struggle. Their ability to adapt is admirable and their willingness to try new things is also good, but respect for tradition does not mean being stuck in that tradition.

Where I think we can do better as faculty is realize that being on a laptop campus it is our obligation (and yes, I used that word intentionally) that we need to integrate software into our classroom and help students use it responsibly. That does not mean telling them to put their laptops away. I guess it is their choice if they choose to use it to play solitaire, facebook, IM, or whatever else they are doing, but they have a responsbility to their group and colleagues in class with them to not be a distraction. This past semester I used more technology that we have on campus and found it disappointingly unresponsive to what I needed it to do. That will be an ongoing conversation.

Well, in a few days it will be settling into a new schedule and trying to finish things up before that occurs. It will be a busy week, but that is a normal thing. In the meanwhile, I will be excited to see some people when they get back to Menomonie and am looking forward to more conversations. As always, I appreciate your reading and I am looking forward to the fact that "W" is a single digit brain-midget in the White House!! Hoorah!!

Michael