I like Dean Dad’s blog; he gives me hope that there are more than just a few civil administrators out there. Here he discusses aspects of the adjunct issue. If Dean Dad is not on your RSS feed, you might want to ask yourself why.

I am back into tech mode — perhaps it is the lack of sun? — and am exploring other online options. As I stumbled onto TeacherTube, I found Mr. Duey’s video on fractions. Man, I never knew that math could be so cool. I wish he would have been my math teacher. Seriously.

My brain is shot. I figured that out several days ago. The only comparable state I can think of was during my eighteenth mile when I ran twenty miles just before the term started. My system is attempting to shift into automatic mode; my brain is seeking distractions; my pedagogy is not feeling innovative or interesting. Cold tapioca pudding on a tired paper plate.

I am looking to survive. And I know I can survive. But my conscience, my teacherly self, is not interested in just surviving. I owe it to my students and to myself and to my institutions to do better than that. I do not want months of hard work, focus, and combined efforts with my students to peter out into an acceptable performance. I know they can be exceptional, and I know I have to do my part. I just have to dig down and find it.

That is where I am at. It is hard to describe, but ecstasy, exhaustion, relief, and inattention are battling for my state of mind.

I am so grateful for the few days off. The brief rest will give me the vigor and spirit I need to complete my term with character and integrity.

Courtesy of TeacherTube, an entertaining video on how not to PowerPoint. Please be sure to watch this months before your next presentation!

I am a fan of Gmail, and that is no secret. One reason people give me for not wanting to switch to Gmail is that they want to keep all of their old e-mails. Worry no more. Read this page, make the switch, and safely transfer old e-mails. You’ll love Gmail. Really.

Courtesy of Dr. Davis’ post on Adjuncting, here is a link to a comparison between an adjunct’s and a professor’s pay at a community college. This is from 2005. Be forewarned: it is not very heart-warming.

Bedford/St. Martin’s, the publisher and sponsor of this blog, is giving away up to FOUR $1,000 travel grants. Go here for more information!

For several years I resisted having an MP3 player. Initially, I couched my resistance in not wanting to go with a trend. Then I hid it behind affordability. Finally, I could resist no more. Truth be told, I think I was just afraid that I would become addicted to the thing and never, ever hear what was happening in the world around me.

I have had a player for about six months now. I am very pleased with it. It affords me some privacy on the bus so the random idiot does not disrupt my morning calm, and the player allows me some escape while jogging. Using it on campus has been a more contentious issue for me. On the one hand, I like to know what is going on around me, and campus is a people-dense place. Bumping into people, not hearing what they say, or appearing totally non-attentive to the world around me are all concerns. On the other hand, there are times when I simply do want to block out the world. My patiences sometimes wears thin, and I am really not that interested in connecting with another human being.

At this point, the compromise I have made is to only use the player when I am coming to or leaving campus. When I am on campus and there to work, I do not block people or noise out — this allows me to be fully present and productive. As I arrive or depart, the player helps signal to my brain that yes, Greg, you are starting or done for the day.

Using YouTube, Authorstream enables you to share your PowerPoints on full-screen. I’m not a PowerPoint person, but much of academia is. This may well help you out.

These myths may seem absurd to us, but many students may believe them out of ignorance or, more likely, a deep desire that they be true. Really. Go check them out, and please take the time to urge your students to study wisely. The end of the term is nearing, and our students could use the best advice possible. Thanks to Gearfire for posting!