Just show up.
Attendance is mandatory.
It's right there, written out, in the syllabus. "Mandatory" is highlighted as well. And anybody who was there on the first day of class saw it.
Yet some people don't bother to show up. It's not too much of a time commitment. It should be a no-brainer.
By the end of the semester, I'll have several asking what they can do to raise their grades. It happens almost every time. And my response is that attendance is part of the course grade. It's mandatory. That means it's necessary.
"But what about an extra-credit assignment?"
What about it? Showing up to class all but negates anything like this happening. If I assign extra-credit for being to lazy to come to class, what lesson is learned? Well, besides me punishing myself with extra work at the end of a semester, when things are hectic enough as it is.
"Attendance policies are bogus!"
Really. Really?
If you call 9-1-1 to report a fire, but the operator says that nobody showed up at the fire department because they didn't think it was that important, you'd probably think they were crazy.
If you own a restaurant, but the staff didn't show up because they didn't think it was important enough, you'd probably wonder why you bother keeping them on the payroll.
Yeah, attendance is important. It's a good habit to develop.
Out in the working world, it's vital.
Just show up.
Showing posts with label Oklahoma State University. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Oklahoma State University. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
The Semester is Still Young!
Okay, so here's what happened today...
After my early morning class, I went back to my office to make a few corrections to my syllabi (my students are probably ecstatic that I've decided on office hours so early in the semester!). I made the corrections, saved them to my flash drive, and sent the updates to the department administrative assistant (Bonus! Now that she knows, I'll actually get a sign for my office!). I also posted the syllabi to my two classes that they pertain to.
Next, I thought I'd look up some interesting things to present for my 11:30am class. I teach another section of the same topic on Monday evenings, and with next Monday being MLK Day (no classes), I don't want my 3-days-a-week class to get too far ahead of my Monday-only class.
I found a couple of interesting videos and downloaded them to my flash drive - which I use a lot because I teach in Stillwater and in Tulsa, and I like to have everything with me no matter where I am on a given day.
I also made a "Tip of the Week" short presentation to show the class. Again, saved to the flash drive.
Do you see where this is heading?
By this time I'm pretty pleased with myself, being on top of everything so early in the semester.
Well, 11:15 rolls around and I knew I needed to get to class, but that I needed to make a quick bio-break. No problem. I grabbed my books, my travel mug (Oops! Empty!), and stopped at the restroom before heading down the stairs and across the street to when my class meets.
I got into the classroom early enough, booted up the computer, and went out to fill my travel mug from the water fountain while the computer did its start-up thing.
I got back to the classroom, it's 11:25, and I reach into my pocket for my flash drive.
Flash drive.
Uh, flash drive?
Where is my flash drive?
I checked another pocket - the one where I put my keys after locking the office door. No flash drive.
AAARRRRGHHH!!!
"Don't go away! I'll be right back," I told the class, still filing in.
I ran down the stairs, out the door, and back across the street to the building which houses my office, along with one of the slowest elevators known to humankind.
I ran upstairs (did I mention my office is on the 4th floor? No? Well, it is), unlocked the door, frantically looked around because the flash drive was not still in the computer, which is where I had it last. Or so I thought.
I started unloading my pockets.
I had cargo pants on.
Many pockets.
I found my flash drive in a pocket that I don't put things in.
.
.
.
Unless, apparently, I'm in a hurry and not paying attention.
.
.
Yeah, I had it all along.
.
.
.
I ran back to class, put my flash drive in the classroom computer, and began class.
I showed them the syllabus pertaining to their class, and told them it was also uploaded to the class website.
I showed them the videos.
I showed them the Tip of the Week.
I spoke to them a little bit more about the class, things to expect, and assigned them a reading.
I let them go a little early.
.
.
.
As they were drifting out, one student came up to me.
"I don't know if you know," he said, "but the syllabus you posted for our class is the one for your 8:00 class."
.
.
.
Ah, the semester is still young!
After my early morning class, I went back to my office to make a few corrections to my syllabi (my students are probably ecstatic that I've decided on office hours so early in the semester!). I made the corrections, saved them to my flash drive, and sent the updates to the department administrative assistant (Bonus! Now that she knows, I'll actually get a sign for my office!). I also posted the syllabi to my two classes that they pertain to.
Next, I thought I'd look up some interesting things to present for my 11:30am class. I teach another section of the same topic on Monday evenings, and with next Monday being MLK Day (no classes), I don't want my 3-days-a-week class to get too far ahead of my Monday-only class.
I found a couple of interesting videos and downloaded them to my flash drive - which I use a lot because I teach in Stillwater and in Tulsa, and I like to have everything with me no matter where I am on a given day.
I also made a "Tip of the Week" short presentation to show the class. Again, saved to the flash drive.
Do you see where this is heading?
By this time I'm pretty pleased with myself, being on top of everything so early in the semester.
Well, 11:15 rolls around and I knew I needed to get to class, but that I needed to make a quick bio-break. No problem. I grabbed my books, my travel mug (Oops! Empty!), and stopped at the restroom before heading down the stairs and across the street to when my class meets.
I got into the classroom early enough, booted up the computer, and went out to fill my travel mug from the water fountain while the computer did its start-up thing.
I got back to the classroom, it's 11:25, and I reach into my pocket for my flash drive.
Flash drive.
Uh, flash drive?
Where is my flash drive?
I checked another pocket - the one where I put my keys after locking the office door. No flash drive.
AAARRRRGHHH!!!
"Don't go away! I'll be right back," I told the class, still filing in.
I ran down the stairs, out the door, and back across the street to the building which houses my office, along with one of the slowest elevators known to humankind.
I ran upstairs (did I mention my office is on the 4th floor? No? Well, it is), unlocked the door, frantically looked around because the flash drive was not still in the computer, which is where I had it last. Or so I thought.
I started unloading my pockets.
I had cargo pants on.
Many pockets.
I found my flash drive in a pocket that I don't put things in.
.
.
.
Unless, apparently, I'm in a hurry and not paying attention.
.
.
Yeah, I had it all along.
.
.
.
I ran back to class, put my flash drive in the classroom computer, and began class.
I showed them the syllabus pertaining to their class, and told them it was also uploaded to the class website.
I showed them the videos.
I showed them the Tip of the Week.
I spoke to them a little bit more about the class, things to expect, and assigned them a reading.
I let them go a little early.
.
.
.
As they were drifting out, one student came up to me.
"I don't know if you know," he said, "but the syllabus you posted for our class is the one for your 8:00 class."
.
.
.
Ah, the semester is still young!
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Loyal and True
I've been an Oklahoma State University fan (all sports, not just football) since I was a little kid growing up in Oklahoma City. My dad was a high school coach (mostly football, but he assisted at various times with wrestling, basketball, and track), and I learned a lot about sports through him. I also learned about winning seasons, losing seasons, and in-between seasons (those lingering around .500 with many close games that could could have been victories but for a broken play or two).
I also had a little league baseball experience that verged, at times, on being a living example of "Charlie Brown All-Stars." This was before the age of "Everybody is a Winner." We learned to be gracious when we lost, and to be good sports when we won.
But this post isn't about me. It's about the Cowboys.
With such a young and inexperienced team, I'm pleasantly surprised that OSU is 5-2 at this point in the 2014 football season. Each week these kids (the starting lineup's average age is 19 or 20, maybe?) are gaining experience and getting their lumps. Most may have been recruited from schools where the wins and accolades came easy.
At the college level, things are much different - new faces, new looks, learning to work together with new teammates. It's not easy at times to make the adjustment.
Things will get better. There will still be losses - the toughest part of the schedule is here - but these players will survive. They might need to reach down inside ("...do some soul searching," as my dad, would say to his players) and find a way to play above their level. And believe me, it gets hard sometimes to reach down when you're criticized by armchair quarterbacks, who can sit back and watch a game with their drinks and snacks and pick apart things from afar.
When you're in the thick of the action, you don't always see the gaping hole opening to your left, or seeing the secondary target being more open when you're looking at your primary receiver. Your peripheral vision is hampered by your helmet. The roar of the crowd bounces all around and you may not hear a teammate calling to you. If the linemen are towering over you, you might not know whether they are clearing the way, or about to be overcome by an unexpected play. Likewise, if you are setting up a pass block, you might not know that the play is busted and you now have to clear a way for somebody running the ball.
So many things happen in the chaos, and the players have to adjust to changing situations. Experience makes it easier, but it never becomes easy. These guys aren't pros. They will get to play with some of the same teammates for up to four years. Then it's over. Maybe they'll be good enough to go to the pros, but most don't get that opportunity.
Yes, I am an Oklahoma State Cowboys (and Cowgirls, too) fan. These kids are students, are people like you and me, and they work hard to do things that most people cannot or will not do in order to succeed.
Win or lose, I ride with the Cowboys!
I also had a little league baseball experience that verged, at times, on being a living example of "Charlie Brown All-Stars." This was before the age of "Everybody is a Winner." We learned to be gracious when we lost, and to be good sports when we won.
But this post isn't about me. It's about the Cowboys.
With such a young and inexperienced team, I'm pleasantly surprised that OSU is 5-2 at this point in the 2014 football season. Each week these kids (the starting lineup's average age is 19 or 20, maybe?) are gaining experience and getting their lumps. Most may have been recruited from schools where the wins and accolades came easy.
At the college level, things are much different - new faces, new looks, learning to work together with new teammates. It's not easy at times to make the adjustment.
Things will get better. There will still be losses - the toughest part of the schedule is here - but these players will survive. They might need to reach down inside ("...do some soul searching," as my dad, would say to his players) and find a way to play above their level. And believe me, it gets hard sometimes to reach down when you're criticized by armchair quarterbacks, who can sit back and watch a game with their drinks and snacks and pick apart things from afar.
When you're in the thick of the action, you don't always see the gaping hole opening to your left, or seeing the secondary target being more open when you're looking at your primary receiver. Your peripheral vision is hampered by your helmet. The roar of the crowd bounces all around and you may not hear a teammate calling to you. If the linemen are towering over you, you might not know whether they are clearing the way, or about to be overcome by an unexpected play. Likewise, if you are setting up a pass block, you might not know that the play is busted and you now have to clear a way for somebody running the ball.
So many things happen in the chaos, and the players have to adjust to changing situations. Experience makes it easier, but it never becomes easy. These guys aren't pros. They will get to play with some of the same teammates for up to four years. Then it's over. Maybe they'll be good enough to go to the pros, but most don't get that opportunity.
Yes, I am an Oklahoma State Cowboys (and Cowgirls, too) fan. These kids are students, are people like you and me, and they work hard to do things that most people cannot or will not do in order to succeed.
Win or lose, I ride with the Cowboys!
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Umbrella? What Umbrella?
If you live Oklahoma, you get plenty of opportunities to experience the wind that comes sweeping down the plains. If, like me, you grew up in Oklahoma, you learn to deal with the wind and, during those rare extended periods of no wind (to me, that's a wind speed less than 10 mph) you actually start to miss it.
One of the ways I've dealt with wind is to not carry an umbrella. I'm not sure how many umbrellas were blown inside-out before I learned this coping skill, but at one time I reached a point where I stopped buying new umbrellas.
The down side is that I have to think ahead for dealing with rainy days. Usually, I try to park close enough that I can dart from building to tree (yeah, I know, bad idea if lightning is involved) to building to get to work.
Today, though, I couldn't use that strategy because my car went into the shop for repairs. Sure enough, a thunderstorm rumbled into town just as I was leaving for work.
No umbrella, of course.
I stuffed a couple of garbage bags into my backpack, knowing that I could use them as ponchos (for some reason, I forgot to buy emergency ponchos when I had the chance). But I knew that my head would still get wet. And besides, wearing the garbage bag poncho over my backpack would make me look like the Hunchback of the Garbage Heap.
In a flash of inspiration and a rumble of satisfaction (or maybe it was the lightning and thunder that did the flash and rumble thing?), I grabbed an unused storage tote lid and headed out to the bus stop.
Awesome! It kept my head dry and was big enough to keep my backpack dry as well. Not only that, but I knew that a gust of wind wouldn't turn the thing inside-out.
After I got off the bus (people looked but didn't say anything about my tote lid), I still had a few blocks to walk to get to my workplace.
The rain had more or less stopped, so I carried the lid next to me.
I discovered its next use when a car drove though a puddle in the street next to where I was on the sidewalk. With my "totebrella" at my side, the water didn't splash me.
Yess!!
I made it to my office and from there to my class (it had started raining again by the time I'd ascended the stairs from the basement to emerge outside), using my rain shield.
.
.
.
I wonder if I could make any money marketing the Totebrella?
One of the ways I've dealt with wind is to not carry an umbrella. I'm not sure how many umbrellas were blown inside-out before I learned this coping skill, but at one time I reached a point where I stopped buying new umbrellas.
The down side is that I have to think ahead for dealing with rainy days. Usually, I try to park close enough that I can dart from building to tree (yeah, I know, bad idea if lightning is involved) to building to get to work.
Today, though, I couldn't use that strategy because my car went into the shop for repairs. Sure enough, a thunderstorm rumbled into town just as I was leaving for work.
No umbrella, of course.
I stuffed a couple of garbage bags into my backpack, knowing that I could use them as ponchos (for some reason, I forgot to buy emergency ponchos when I had the chance). But I knew that my head would still get wet. And besides, wearing the garbage bag poncho over my backpack would make me look like the Hunchback of the Garbage Heap.
In a flash of inspiration and a rumble of satisfaction (or maybe it was the lightning and thunder that did the flash and rumble thing?), I grabbed an unused storage tote lid and headed out to the bus stop.
Awesome! It kept my head dry and was big enough to keep my backpack dry as well. Not only that, but I knew that a gust of wind wouldn't turn the thing inside-out.
After I got off the bus (people looked but didn't say anything about my tote lid), I still had a few blocks to walk to get to my workplace.
The rain had more or less stopped, so I carried the lid next to me.
I discovered its next use when a car drove though a puddle in the street next to where I was on the sidewalk. With my "totebrella" at my side, the water didn't splash me.
Yess!!
I made it to my office and from there to my class (it had started raining again by the time I'd ascended the stairs from the basement to emerge outside), using my rain shield.
.
.
.
I wonder if I could make any money marketing the Totebrella?
Thursday, May 22, 2014
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Losing My Mind
I just re-read my April 1 post and had to laugh.
If I'd waited another day, I would have had more to add to it, as the stress level grew.
It turns out that not only did I have to move from my apartment (they graciously gave us until mid-May), but I also had to move my office because that building, too, is slated for destruction.
Needless to say, I survived the moves, and Finals Week, and posting grades, and attending my kid's Spring Concert (the little goober didn't tell us he was getting an award for the Young Men's Ensemble's Superior rating).
We're in our new place, still unboxing things, and I'm contemplating renting a bigger storage unit because we keep downsizing where we live faster than we downsize the stuff we have.
But all is well for now.
And on the up side, I'm teaching two classes for OSU this summer, which means I won't have time to screen jerky for Ralph's Packing down in Perkins, OK.
By the way, I just uploaded my first YouTube video. It's a walkthrough of Hanner Hall, which is where my office was located for the past couple of years. I've embedded it below. I used a Canon PowerShot A2300 to film it, so it's probably not going to be noticed by next year's Oscar committee, LOL
If I'd waited another day, I would have had more to add to it, as the stress level grew.
It turns out that not only did I have to move from my apartment (they graciously gave us until mid-May), but I also had to move my office because that building, too, is slated for destruction.
Needless to say, I survived the moves, and Finals Week, and posting grades, and attending my kid's Spring Concert (the little goober didn't tell us he was getting an award for the Young Men's Ensemble's Superior rating).
We're in our new place, still unboxing things, and I'm contemplating renting a bigger storage unit because we keep downsizing where we live faster than we downsize the stuff we have.
But all is well for now.
And on the up side, I'm teaching two classes for OSU this summer, which means I won't have time to screen jerky for Ralph's Packing down in Perkins, OK.
By the way, I just uploaded my first YouTube video. It's a walkthrough of Hanner Hall, which is where my office was located for the past couple of years. I've embedded it below. I used a Canon PowerShot A2300 to film it, so it's probably not going to be noticed by next year's Oscar committee, LOL
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Everything is Just Ducky!
Yep, that's me. With a goofy grin on my face.
Earlier this semester, I let time slip away from me and was 25 minutes late to class. My class. The one I teach.
It was a weird experience. The campus seemed deserted, even though it was a very pleasant Fall day. When I got into the Classroom Building (Really! We have a building named "Classroom Building" here) I noticed that the halls were nearly deserted. It was 2:20 in the afternoon and there should have been students and faculty scurrying about as classes let out and before the next classes began.
Something was wrong. My first thought was that somebody had pulled the fire alarm and everybody was outside waiting for the all-clear. But there weren't that many people outside as I had approached the building.
I made it upstairs to my classroom, noting other classes were filled as I walked down the hall.
Then I walked into my classroom, looking at my watch and noticing that it was not quite 2:30pm.
Hold the phone! 2:30!?!?! This was my day for my 2:00 class, not 2:30!
Of course, nobody waited around long enough to see if I was going to show up. I don't blame them. I was a student once and there was a kind of rule of thumb that you only stick around so many minutes if the professor was late and then assume he (or she - but for some reason it was never a she in my case) was not going to show up, then leave.
I could insert an excuse like "but then my Astrid app was bought out by Yahoo and dumped so my favorite to-do app that kept me on time for everything was no more," but I won't use that as an excuse.
I vowed to not let it happen again.
Fast forward to today - the end of the semester.
I was gleefully filling my little Christmas bucket (it's okay to mention Christmas on the Cyberwebs, right?) with candy canes to hand out in class today. It's the last day of my class for these students, and, being Dead Week at OSU, the only new material I had for them was candy.
Then I decided to put my Christmas Ducky bow tie on, so I went down the hall from my office to the restroom to make sure the tie was reasonable straight.
I came back to my office, where I had Christmas music playing on my Kindle Fire and I saw a post online that the Annual Stillwater Christmas Parade was canceled. What?!
After the shock wore off (I mean, they've held the parade in colder weather and when it was actually snowing!), I put my bucket in my backpack, grabbed my textbook, and went to class, blissfully unaware of the time.
I walked outside into the late Fall crispy cold air and noticed that there weren't very many people out and about. But it was a pretty chilly day.
I think I counted about three dozen snowflakes blowing around before I reached the Classroom Building. Certainly not enough to cancel a parade. Yeah, I'm a grown-up, but I still love parades!
Deja vu struck as I noticed the halls of the Classroom Building were noticeably empty. I walked up the stairs to the third floor and glanced at my watch - 2:25pm. Not a problem.
Whoops! It's Thursday. I am late for my 2:00 class. Again.
I chuckled as I walked into the empty room. I wrote an apology on the class web page, and uploaded my final PowerPoint presentation - three slides, wishing them good luck and congratulations to those graduating this Fall.
Apparently I don't always learn from my mistakes.
But I have plenty of candy canes. And a Ducky bow tie.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Something to Add to My To Don't List
I learned a couple of things today.
I enjoy donating blood at blood drives. I also like to joke around. I found that there is at least one time when I shouldn't joke at a blood drive.
Everything had gone smoothly. The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) even made it easier by making the pre-donation questions available online.
One small hiccup, which was my fault, was that my heart-rate was 105 when I got there. I had run up four flights of stairs to go donate in the OSU Student Union's Starlight Terrace. A guy needs exercise, right? I had to sit and wait for a few minutes until my heart slowed down to normal.
The first to add to my To Don't List: When going to give blood, don't run up stairs or you'll have to sit, negating the time you thought you'd saved by getting there quickly.
My next opportunity to learn came when the lovely and talented OBI blood taker person was adjusting the rubber hose thingy that connects the big needle in the vein to the bags that catch the blood. You see, I was joking with the OBI people and just as the gal was getting ready to tape the tubing to my arm, I made her giggle. Not only did she giggle, but she jiggled. The needle. Ouch!
The second thing to add to my To Don't List: After they poke you with the needle, don't crack jokes before all the tubing is secured to your arm.
I hope I remember these things in a couple of months when I'm eligible to donate again.
I enjoy donating blood at blood drives. I also like to joke around. I found that there is at least one time when I shouldn't joke at a blood drive.
Everything had gone smoothly. The Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) even made it easier by making the pre-donation questions available online.
One small hiccup, which was my fault, was that my heart-rate was 105 when I got there. I had run up four flights of stairs to go donate in the OSU Student Union's Starlight Terrace. A guy needs exercise, right? I had to sit and wait for a few minutes until my heart slowed down to normal.
The first to add to my To Don't List: When going to give blood, don't run up stairs or you'll have to sit, negating the time you thought you'd saved by getting there quickly.
My next opportunity to learn came when the lovely and talented OBI blood taker person was adjusting the rubber hose thingy that connects the big needle in the vein to the bags that catch the blood. You see, I was joking with the OBI people and just as the gal was getting ready to tape the tubing to my arm, I made her giggle. Not only did she giggle, but she jiggled. The needle. Ouch!
The second thing to add to my To Don't List: After they poke you with the needle, don't crack jokes before all the tubing is secured to your arm.
I hope I remember these things in a couple of months when I'm eligible to donate again.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
There Will Be Blood
Just a couple of days until I donate some blood to the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI). I took an extra few weeks between donations so I could be in this Fall's Bedlam Blood Drive between OSU and OU.
It doesn't take long to give blood. Plus, there will be Hideaway pizza, other snacky things, t-shirts, and I believe a chance to win tickets to this years OSU-OU Bedlam Football game down in Norman.
If you live in or around Stillwater, come to Gallagher-Iba Arena or Kerr-Drummond and give up some blood. You might save a life. And your blood gets replaced pretty quickly, so why not just do it?
It doesn't take long to give blood. Plus, there will be Hideaway pizza, other snacky things, t-shirts, and I believe a chance to win tickets to this years OSU-OU Bedlam Football game down in Norman.
If you live in or around Stillwater, come to Gallagher-Iba Arena or Kerr-Drummond and give up some blood. You might save a life. And your blood gets replaced pretty quickly, so why not just do it?
Friday, September 2, 2011
I'm Gellin'
Shameless plug here, but I love my Dr. Scholl's shoes!
I like working at O-State sporting events, but as one of the behind-the-scenes personnel, I'm often there long before the first fan arrives and until the last fan is gone. It calls for several hours on my feet and, especially during football games, many miles of walking around the venue, doing my best to ensure things go smoothly for the fans. Afterwards, I'm usually pretty tired.
A few years ago I was so tired and achy after some football games (the ones where my workday lasted 14+ hours) that I could barely walk to my car. I learned quickly that good insoles were essential. Then a year or so ago I found some Dr. Scholl's shoes at reasonable prices. To my surprise, they weren't just comfortable, but sturdy as well. And they are made with the Dr. Scholl's insoles as part of the shoe.
Today I bought some insoles to go inside my already-comfy shoes. With the heat we've had lately, tomorrow is going to be tough enough to deal with. Might as well make sure I can "stand" it for the duration.
I like working at O-State sporting events, but as one of the behind-the-scenes personnel, I'm often there long before the first fan arrives and until the last fan is gone. It calls for several hours on my feet and, especially during football games, many miles of walking around the venue, doing my best to ensure things go smoothly for the fans. Afterwards, I'm usually pretty tired.
A few years ago I was so tired and achy after some football games (the ones where my workday lasted 14+ hours) that I could barely walk to my car. I learned quickly that good insoles were essential. Then a year or so ago I found some Dr. Scholl's shoes at reasonable prices. To my surprise, they weren't just comfortable, but sturdy as well. And they are made with the Dr. Scholl's insoles as part of the shoe.
Today I bought some insoles to go inside my already-comfy shoes. With the heat we've had lately, tomorrow is going to be tough enough to deal with. Might as well make sure I can "stand" it for the duration.
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