A new semester--YAY!

Okay, so everyone else's semester started over a week ago. I'm finally feeling like I'm actually alive (look ma! no wheezing spells!) and part of the world so, yes, I'm excited and no, nobody's going to bring me down about it.

(I do have a lot to make up for, but I can do it. With this euphoric feeling I have today, I think I could pretty much do anything, er, but don't quote me on that tomorrow.)

My first order of business is to catch up on my class work. I think (I hope) I've gotten all that lined up, or will have within the next few days.

Then, there's the issue of OLL work. Somehow, I've misplaced my zip disk that had some of the projects left over from last semester on it. I've got to find that--or face up to the consequence of redesigning the entire newsletter that I had put together up 'til this point.

I'm also doing the Faculty Friday workshop next week (which I just found out about today). As long as I stick to the same DreamWeaver script as we worked on in class last semester, I should be okay. If a lot of questions get asked, I may very well be in trouble.

The Art Therapy project is coming along. I spoke to Dr. Millner today and the IRB stuff should be coming back within the next day or so. We're going to be working up two separate studies. I may be making a quick trip up to Vancleave, MS in a few days. One of the first grade teachers there had her students construct a book about Katrina, each kid was responsible for one page. While they weren't mass produced, they did make enough for each child/family to have one and there's one avaiable for reading in the school's library. It might be of interest to see what the little ones had to write and paint about their memories/feelings of Katrina.

Something else came out of that last meeting...

...or maybe I'm reading into things. All I know is that I was never contacted by the reporter who wrote the following article. I'm making the assumption, then, that he got his information from the ArtStart website or from Charlie Smoke himself. However it happened, I'm pleased--very pleased. (Hmmm--can I start that I'm-now-going-to-take-over-the-world laugh???)

Well, things are going better...

...since I last posted. We're cruising along on this Katrina Recovery Project (yea! I actually have a direction in my life!). We've gotten over 3700 CD-Roms duplicated so far and the website's coming along well from last I heard.

I'm excited about this new thing that may be happening over the summer. Considering its very closely related to the area I could see myself in (working as an instructional developer at a museum or doing something with public television--which is always running arts education-style programming), I'm hoping we're able to help out on this thing that Mobile Arts Council is hosting for the Arts Education instructors from all over the state. Getting in on the development of the workshops--as well as the video/website/cd-roms that are produced as supporting materials afterward--would give me added insight into an area in which I'm already interested. Plus, the experience with grant proposal writing would be a real boon. Yeah, I know I'm being totally mercenary--well, sort of. By summer, I'll have the capabilities to do a lot of this myself. This would be a good opportunity to actually see it put to good use--to put together a good product for people who are actually interested in it. *crossing fingers* I hope we (or I) can do it!

I'm a total wreck right now...

Well, maybe not total.

I hate to complain, because we (my family and I) have been so lucky in comparison to so many others. But all this Katrina stuff is pulling at my brain, at my attention. Today's my first day back at the OLL and I'm all but worthless. I needed to get back--to have some semblance of structure and schedule--but I'm all out of whack.

Hmmmm--what do I mean by that?

Well, first off, I've been totally out of the loop. Everyone else apparently reported back last Tuesday while I was still stuck in Savannah (we had no running water nor electricity at home 'til Thursday night, so what was there to come home to?). Anyhow, I'm checking out/listening in on what others are up to and they actually seem to have a plan--something of which I'm missing at the moment. And with no computer access at home thanks to the phone lines still being lackluster at best, I've been out of touch for the most part as far as trying to check in and catch up.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking--that I have little to complain about, considering...

True.

I know that.

I simply wish the storm hadn't happened (like nobody else wishes the same thing)--maybe then, I wouldn't have spent twenty minutes staring at a PowerPoint presentation I'd started putting together pre-Katrina not having a clue where I'd wanted to take it or what I should do with it now.

You know, I hope this isn't an omen of what is to come--but then again, if a storm like that is simply an omen, I'd hate to see what its an omen of!!!

But now I'm rambling. See? I told you my mind is a wreck right now! (But not totally.)

Monday, August 22

There was a lot going on today but as far as actually product to show for what I did, I have very little. I guess that's what the "in training" phase is really all about.

1. worked in e-college--still unsure of dropboxes and e-college editor (will work on that more later).
2. played with photoshop--created poster but again had difficulty in saving to Zip disk.
3. created a concept map using Inspiration.
4. created a survey using SurveyMonkey.
5. searched through and familiarized myself (or at least began to) with the OLL website.
6. Question--Am I to add to the online newsletter, produce a paper newsletter or both?Andy answered this already.
7. spent some time surfing through the USA website, again familiarizing myself with new areas/pages and locations that may be useful later on.
8. read through pedagogical and technological objectives under the Job Aids section of the OLL website.
9. looked up software info online for instructor.
10. reviewed past newsletters.
11. emailed Litchfield (about newsletter).
12. emailed Hans (about working with Producer).
13. tried out DreamWeaver but the instructional folder didn't match program.

'Tis the night before the semester starts...

...and all through the house, the dustbunnies have all been dusted, but I really wish I were soused.

Okay, okay, so it ain't Shakespeare--but it's better than the typical "test test" message, right?

Actually, I have indeed been cleaning most of the day--trying to put some of that nervous energy to good use.

While we've already had orientation for the Online Learning Lab, tomorrow's the first "official" day of work/class. I shouldn't be, but yup, I'm a bit on edge.

It's rather like the night before Christmas, really--all kinds of possibilities.