Back to 101

the big switch

2008-05-21T06:53:00.000-07:00

Decided to bail on the WS100 course at this juncture... switched to HIST246 the rise of modern asia !! should be good. a small course fee was assessed, and i opted for web based. so, that will be interesting. More on the course later.
Frustrating about the WS100 instructor not getting in touch with me. I couldn't take the risk of no communication when I'm overseas.

getting through to mel

2008-05-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

My instructor, Melissa, has now received my message about assessement criteria and word count ranges. I have to write the independent study center and they forward the message. If she writes back and asks: criteria? what is that?? then, I'm in trouble. Started first assignment. Will post here once I know a word count to write within.

assessment... seeking

2008-05-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

I wrote the instructor of the course in women studies and asked for assessment criteria for the short essays assigned. no word so far. hopefully, they will have something that is sound on offer. also asked for word count range for assignments. hoping for the best.

hello girls...

2008-05-07T20:12:00.000-07:00

Women: images and realities... a multicultural anthology came in via fedex to school today. this means I have my books for the course!! I was able to download Herland from an etext for free. Kudos to instructor to still use 1st edition of book and supplement with some more recent items... this allowed me to buy the book from abe.com for $3 + $12.99 shipping to Japan. Sweet.
Much of this course appears to be an American-centric perspective, which isn't ideal. Hopefully, I can generalize to a wider female experience/perspective, which will help my classes in the future.

seeking... redemption? self-vivisecton?

2008-05-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

Why am I going back to a 101 experience??? most likely, judging from the post title, the later... with the former mixed in for good measure. Also, it will be interesting to familiarize myself with 'writing sets' again... as a teacher, you focus on the other side of the learning cycle... and hone your skills accordingly. However, it is also useful (a speculation here...) to approach learning from a student-centered perspective... maybe it will help my teaching.
Much on the plate coming up in these six months: a trip back to the old home land; regenerative time back in Oz; photographing the bush in Booderee; eye surgery; 101 work; Pug work (my beloved 1978 504); some interior renno; back to YIS for IB, volleyball coaching, a new department dynamic, new syllabus changes in IB and IGCSE; adoption; the ITMS launch in October; and October trip...
Lucky thing I have 8 months to finish these courses.

back to 101...

2008-05-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

To get my certification renewed in Ohio, i need to take some college credits. I called the Ohio Department of Ed's Certification Department and inquired about the requirements, which were posted on a website, but were not clear enough for my questions. It turns out i can take grad hours AND undergrad hours (I need 9 semester hours) to satisfy the requirement... AND I can take these courses pass/fail... and my school's PD fund will pay for the lion's share of the cost.
This is all interesting info for a person who has four degrees already... two of them being grad degrees (History and Library Science).
I started searching for online courses and stumbled upon Ohio University's Department of Independent and Distant Learning Programs... they offer college credit my correspondence courses (plus other means). Since I was such a terrible undergrad student in my foolish youth, I have decided to take some undergrad courses that will: help my teaching perspectives, expose me to some ideas/coursework I never took in college before, and achieve a scintilla of catharsis regarding my past sins of omission in my college days. A hefty aspirational load... but one worth 'aspiring to'...
So, I have enrolled @ Ohio U for two courses, Philosophy 101 and Women's Studies 100, four quarter hours each, all by correspondence (I had to pay $120 for postage fees for the courses) I have since found out this program is quite popular with the incarcerated!!
The courses look interesting. I plan to record my entire experiences here on Blogspot...