"Sit Right Back..."
I'm in class right now, so why am I doing a blog entry? Bad professor! But it's my advanced report writing class, and I have them divided into groups creating annual reports for a nonprofit in downtown Hartford, either Cinestudio or the Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective. It's a really great project because these nonprofits welcome the help, and I want my students to work on projects that have real meaning and do not just fill an assignment of my own devising.

The thing is, though, that these are good students who really seem on target with this. Okay, that's certainly not a problem, so why am I complaining? I've wandered around the room and interjected comments as needed. Actually, I think I'm annoying them at times with my "Good idea!" and "You know, you could always do this...." We're in the computer lab dedicated to our program, and I've already restarted all of the unused computers, created a sign for the lost-and-found shelf, and created another sign for the clock that points out that the hour hand does not work but the minute hand does. Yes, I am that anal, but I wouldn't take the time to do that if I weren't trying to be productive.

I think some of the stragest days for writing teachers are when our students are writing, either alone or in groups, and we want them doing that writing in front of us. For this particular project, I think they can finish in the class time I've giving them and not have to resort to outside meetings. Like many of us, I've seen groups fall apart (I once had a screaming match in one of my classes). I'd prefer to be around and not leave them completely alone, though these groups are rolling along.

Last night, in the virus course, they worked on their first essays due Sunday (I get all essays by email). I went over the things I expect to find in their essays and gave them a couple of options of what I wanted them to do in class. Then, I let them pull out their Ipods if desired and get to work for a bit. Again, they're in an honors course, so most of them work well with clear instructions.

But that does lead to some sitting around on my part. Not a bad thing, or I wouldn't be writing about it for the world. I guess it does balance things out for all the time I'll be spending next week grading all of the writing they are producing now.
- posted by Nels @ 2:38 PM | | | Link |