Summer update

(I was away so long this time that I forgot my password…)

Yes, it’s that time of year to feel bad about not getting enough accomplished as time inexorably rushes towards the start of another academic year. This time, I really haven’t accomplished much over the summer. I’ve managed to help out a colleague on a project for which I’ll get no credit (not his fault; he probably won’t get much credit either). It may provide some nice student opportunities, if anyone cares.

Summertime and the livin’s measly

(BTW, for those who view my home page, sorry for the recent lack of “Continue Reading” buttons; I just kept forgetting them, and kept forgetting to view the home page to see what it was looking like, as opposed to the “Dashboard” which is the “man behind the curtain” for a WordPress blog.)

So, summer is rushing by, but I’m making great progress on research.  Yeah, right.  Although I will get about a week’s worth of research done, I’m actually ass-deep in major course/curriculum development.

The state of the WaDiA – 2014

Well, actually the state of the person behind WaDiA.  Now that the academic year is finished, I guess maybe it’s time to assess where I am at the moment.  I’m getting over a cold, so please excuse me if I start coughing up something while writing this.

What a load

This is an idea I’ve been kicking around for a while.  It’s easy to say things like “I teach 3 courses” or whatever, but there is a wide range in effort depending on the level of the course, whether it is a new prep, whether it is lower- or upper-division, how many students, etc.  If everything breaks the right way, a “2 course” load can be worse than a “4 course” load.  For example, if the former involves new upper-division preps with lots of students and the latter involves two sections each of two intro courses you’ve taught before.

Another typical semester

I think what’s particularly bothering me about my job is that I’m really not doing anything that I feel is interesting.  Since I have almost no life beyond work (partly because of work demands), this has led to a difficult last couple months.  My physical health hasn’t been perfect during this time, and I’ll eventually get around to talking a little about the other stuff.