It started with a handprint. A way to spend some time as a family and do a little something. I don't mind getting paint on me, but full hand immersion into paint is a commitment. It was fun but may or may not be repeated in the future.
Right now lots of project ideas are floating through the world as parents need to keep children occupied enough so that they can do both what is needed around the house while also managing work expectations. Really, what could go wrong? I happened upon one of these ideas. A couple of art teachers posted ideas of a project that could be completed with cardboard boxes, paint, and glue. This looked much more promising than submerging my hand in paint. I had all of the necessary materials along with several xacto knives. It so happens that I recently started getting my fruits and veges from a company that has repurposed from a restaurant food distributor to serving families. They pack their produce in cardboard boxes. This means that my collection keeps getting replenished. Since they are for produce that needs air, all of my cardboard boxes come with ventilation holes. These make for some interesting features. Now I cut and paint shapes out of cardboard and glue them together, getting paint on my hands, of course. Here are my masks. I don't think I am finished making them yet.
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If you had asked, and you probably wouldn't have, I would have said that I have the computer skills I need for my current job with maybe a little bit extra. That was before.
In March, I embarked on a intensive, on-the-job training, with a live studio audience. Some things went better than I thought in the transition. And some things did not. I won't worry you with the details. I made a video to try to capture some of what I learned to share with my colleagues. Figuring out how I wanted to organize this video and screen cast this took time. Then I recorded it and realized that headset microphone picked up my every breath. It sounded like Darth Vader was trying his hand at online teaching. I decided I should probably fix that and back to my recording studio I went. Instead of a quick conversation over lunch, I found myself spending a few hours making a five minute video. I remembered why I stopped making videos after my last attempts about five years ago. Cost-benefit analysis said it was not a good use of my time.
This week, I decided my students needed to take a test. Usually, I stick with paper and pencil tests. Usually, when I need to give a listening section of a test, I cue up the sound clip I need and play from speakers in my classroom. Usually, I spend no more than an hour writing a test even when writing a long exam. I have been teaching for over twenty years. I have my systems. That was before.
I spent a good part of Tuesday writing a test for one of my classes and a good part of Thursday writing a test for another class. I had to upload sound clips and record others. Unlike a test I might administer in class, it needed to be beyond perfect. I want the students to be able to take it without needing to second guess any part of any of my directions. I always try to write clear directions, but I usually will be in the room to answer any questions. Did I mention that there are only thirty points on this test? Who knew that creating a thirty point test needed such patience with oneself? It would not be a school if there weren't clubs. Aside from a few emails, I have never considered any of the clubs I advise to be in the technical realm. I usually am in charge of buying food and drinks, and helping students figure out who to talk to about an event they want to organize. That was before. We Zoomed like the champs we have now become. We almost got stumped by how to take part in the Day of Silence, an annual event for the GSA. How do you organize a Day of Silence when there is no one on campus? My new technical over confidence told me that I could figure it out. I like my final product, but I think the people who work in communications are not in any danger of me taking their jobs any time soon. |
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