Zooming

Because I was on sabbatical last semester, and am teaching f2f this semester, I taught my first zoom class today. (We had a snow day, which in the age of the pandemic means on-campus classes are cancelled, and we go to remote learning.)

Good points:

Almost all the students showed up.

Bad points:

They all kept their cameras and mics off (for which I do not blame them in the least, mind you -- I would do the same).

I could not get the screen sharing function to work. (I think I have this problem solved now, half an hour after the class ended.) This means all I could do was talk about how to use citation machine, instead of showing them how to use it. UGH.

My computer locked up two minutes into the class, and I had to shut it down and reboot. My students kindly did not leave during the five minutes this took.

No one asked any questions. Does this mean they didn't HAVE questions, or that they were afraid to ask, or...

Thanks, I hate it.

I have another class this evening. It should go better, since I think I have the bugs worked out. Famous last words.

First Week of Teaching in the Pandemic

 I've completed my first week of teaching during the pandemic -- I didn't teach last semester, you'll recall, due to my sabbatical.

I can safely say I do not like this.

One thing I do not like is the masks. I know they're necessary but (a) I wear glasses, so mine are constantly fogged up, which does not help my ability to see and remember student and (2) masks cover mouths, so I'm having trouble seeing who is talking.

Also, because we've split the classes, I'm see half the students in any given class once a week. I can already see this will be an issue so far as getting much done.

Also, just in the first week, I've had three students who have had to quarantine due to family members testing positive, and one student -- who is in our National Guard -- called up to go deal with the cosplaying traitors at the Capitol. That student has no idea when they will be able to return and resume classes.

I've had enough of living in interesting times, thanks just the same.

Otium

As all y'all know, my sabbatical for Fall 2020 was granted. This means I don't have to return to campus until January 2021.

Also Dr. Skull is currently unemployed, due to the virus. (Normally he'd be teaching at the Governor's School right now.)

And the kid is back up the hill, taking a summer class.

So I have absolutely nothing to do, day after day after day. The last time I had this much leisure, I was ten years old.

8:30: I get up, drink coffee, do the NYTimes Crossword puzzle.

9:00 until about 2:00: I write. Just now I am working on a vampire novella (which is SO not my lane) and finishing the revisions of the Velocity Sequel.

2:00: Eat lunch while reading something.

2:30: Consider the housework. Usually laundry needs doing, or the floor has to be swept. Today I made a grocery run. Yesterday I picked up books at the library and did laundry.

4:00-8:00: I read.

8:00 If it's not too hot, I take the dog for a walk. Lately it is far too hot. And next week the highs are going to be in the 100s, with 70-80% humidity.

9:00-Midnight: More reading, though occasionally I watch a movie.

Midnight or so: Bed

These days I remember my Catullus:

Ōtium, Catulle, tibī molestum est: ōtiō exsultās nimiumque gestīs. Ōtium et rēgēs prius et beātās perdidit urbēs.

Leisure, Catullus, it destroys you; with leisure, you're just too hyper..

In the fall, once things cool down, I can take more and longer walks. That will help.

Little Catulli

(Source for the comic)

The Academy in the Pandemic

We've moved as a university to pass/fail for student classes.

Sort of, anyway -- we give the students grades and then the students get to decide whether to keep these grades, changed them to P/F, or withdraw from the class entirely.

I kind of like this, and think maybe we should do it always, not just during the pandemic.

What do y'all think?