Until today, I had never been to the Cité de l’Architecture et du Patrimoine. Now, before you judge me too harshly: yes, students are in Paris with me for a month, but we visit a different location in the city every day. I can’t be blamed for preferring the real Notre Dame to a model, …
All posts by @smithpres
Reasons
I chose the apartment I’m renting this summer for all sorts of practical reasons:- it’s close to the students’ dorm. – it’s close to my mother’s place. – it’s on multiple metro lines. – shops and other amenities are accessible. – it is within budget. (<= super extra important) But if I’m completely honest, I …
Prepping for Paris
Leaving for France in two weeks exactly. You think after having taught this course three times already, it would all be routine by now. And mostly, it is. Still, lots and lots to get done. Teaching a course abroad is an interesting experience. Some of it is just like teaching a regular class: syllabus prep, …
Fun & Games
I’ve been on the gamification train for a long time. Still, I haven’t run out of things to learn, so when Mary Kayler announced a gamification workshop this spring, I was eager to sign up. Creating successful gamification classes/assignments is very time intensive, and I’ve had an idea brewing in my head a long time: …
Cold Turkey?
Looking at the news these days, I find my blood pressure spiking as my anxiety goes through the roof. It seems to be a widespread problem, but that’s little consolation. I’ve got hypertension and anxiety to begin with, and there’s only so much medication can accomplish. Like many academics, I’ve had an active presence on …
Learning sans fear
At the invitation of Steve Greenlaw (hi, Steve!) I’ve enrolled in the #OpenLearning17 cMOOC. On the one hand: I’ve done plenty of work with OER in the past. I’ve posted about it. I’ve even presented about it. That doesn’t mean I’m doing as much as I could, and it doesn’t mean I’ve learned all that can …
Giving the LMS a chance
I haven’t been shy over the years in criticizing the LMS. Students have consistently told me to stick with my website instead. Downside: they can’t see their grade up-to-the-minute. Upside: it’s organized to make it simple and easy to use. Plus all the stuff I’ve mentioned before (openness, availability outside semesters, etc.) Still, my critique …
LEGO Critique Deux: CITY Fun in the Park Set (This time it’s PERSONAL!)
Last year, in an effort to “walk the walk”, I reviewed the LEGO Robie House. I find myself teaching the LEGO FSEM again this fall, and figured: well, let’s walk again. This time, I picked a set I was super excited about, the CITY Fun in the Park set. It’s a pretty small set, considering …
After Evernote
The news about Evernote had been bad for a while, but when they raised their prices this summer, that was it for me. I don’t mind paying for services, but $70 a year is too steep. Plus, I’ve always had a problem with having my data scattered among lots of different platforms. Ideally, I’d like …
Explaining professoring to foreign parents
Recently my dad came to visit, and he asked me questions about my job that made it clear he doesn’t really know what profs do. This isn’t exactly a surprise: my dad is a Frenchman who never finished high school (or more exactly, he never passed the baccalauréat). Really, why would he be familiar with …