How has the Semester Been so Far? by Aris Winger https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q en-us 2022-10-10 18:27:25 UTC 2022-10-14 20:44:18 UTC hello@padlet.com Many more students coming for help (e.g. office hours) than usual (although it has required having many extra brief zoom mtgs) https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952320 2022-10-14 20:24:27 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952320 Haven't graded it yet...nervous... https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952351 2022-10-14 20:24:31 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952351 Padlet is so amazing. They say the cutest stuff, and sometimes super vulnerable. But one of the things I’m finding I appreciate how it improves my ability to respond to difficult questions/hot takes. There is less pressure on ME when I’m answering a question without knowing who asked it. I think, because I am reading the questions (rather than having a student asking), it gives me that extra little bit of time - just a moment, but it’s enough for me to construct a meaningful response. I’m finding that I can find some way to validate student comments, even when it’s something I don’t personally agree with, more easily than ever before. (“That’s something I hadn’t considered before,” or “Ooooh . . . that’s an interesting spin on this topic!” Etc.). This can only be helping improve the level of discourse in class. https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952676 I also love how free they are to use slang and textspeak on Padlet: mf, af, FR, slay, idk, tbh,  etc. I feel it brings a level of appropriate casualness to the classroom atmosphere. It helps that I already understand most of the slang (all that time I spent on Tumblr is FINALLY paying off haha), and then if I don’t know something, I just ask and they’re happy to fill me in. My sense is that it helps them relate to me just that little bit more than they did before. I’ve seen students visibly relax after some of the Padlet sessions. ]]> 2022-10-14 20:25:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952676 Many more questions in class https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952720 2022-10-14 20:25:11 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952720 One class did so well, I was so proud! The other the grades were very bimodal which is a little concerning https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952944 2022-10-14 20:25:34 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952944 putting pressure on myself to make sure that the 'in person' class is worth it for the students- i.e. that 'they couldn't just do this over zoom'... https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952970 2022-10-14 20:25:36 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340952970 Next week. Worried about a handful of students...especially one DSS student. Very few students showed up to a special lab exam study session. https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340953031 2022-10-14 20:25:42 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340953031 Getting students to attend my virtual class. Also, there is a small subset of students who are just unwilling to follow class policies, and I've struggled with that this semester. (Although maybe not more than usual). https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340953426 2022-10-14 20:26:18 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340953426 Getting anonymous feedback right now and the students are saying they feel comfortable in the classroom and engaged which makes me so happy https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340954028 2022-10-14 20:27:02 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340954028 I'm way behind from previous years with regards to the material, and I'm realizing that I need to reorganize the class so that I don't just lop off the end of the class and am more thoughtful about the material that I'm going to need to remove in the future. https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340954204 2022-10-14 20:27:20 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340954204 Going to adopt the "redo some exam questions for some additional points" process to try to overcome the dramatic bimodal curve this year https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340955066 2022-10-14 20:28:33 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340955066 feel good that I could adjust midterm #2 due to feedback from exam #1 https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340955413 2022-10-14 20:29:06 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340955413 I brought up the student who rolls her eyes in class during our last meeting. During one class I asked if they did anything fun on the weekend and she asked if having a mental breakdown counted as fun. This led to a private discussion with her where she shared some of the problems in her personal life and this made me understand her more. It was a humbling reminder that it's not always me, people are dealing with things we don't even know https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340956551 2022-10-14 20:30:48 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340956551 Many students are not really college ready, maybe due to Covid? https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340956651 2022-10-14 20:30:58 UTC https://padlet.com/ariswinger/h31z793v69b0x49q/wish/2340956651