Made it through the first week again...

As is always the case, the first week is always a little hectic as we build on last year and make last minute changes. Each year we become better organized and better prepared. In addition the students are coming in with a better and better understanding of technology and how to use it.

When we first standardized on all our course materials being offered through WebCT, all our e-mails going to MyOkanagan (Pipeline back then) and all the online curriculum through the cisco networking I remember a colleague (who is no longer with the college) saying we were piling way to much on them. I didn't really understand where he was coming from since it was the only way for us to provide a single respository for the class resources and ensure we were able to contact all the students. Each year we have refined the orientation document, and each year the students have made their way through with more ease. This year went seemed also went really well. Of course the real question is how many students are going to come back to us a couple of weeks from now and say they have never been able to get onto the academy website, or didn't know my detailed lecture notes existed. In order to curb those type of issues I elected to print and hand out a conduct and info document the first class. It was a bit of a riot act, but instead of my just telling them about it all, I was able to really to put it to them in writing as well. Again we'll have to see how effective it was next week.

I'm probably going to do a little group based learning again. It was a hit and miss last year, but unfortunately last year was a strange group dynamic. I'm hoping this year the students have a better sense of my expectations and really use it as an alternative method of learning. Of course there will be those who kick back do nothing, but I can only do so much them. At some point they have to be the ones to realize it is their money and time they are wasting. As long as it doesn't interfere with those who are trying to learn they are free to do what they want. I think I've laid out my expectations a little better this year and am better prepared with the labs and the slides. Last year involved a massive rewrite for the NTEN111 course so I had a harder time ensuring the slides were up in time for them to reader them, but this year I managed to get them all up a few weeks in advance. Although I had to realign my slides with the new ITE V4.0 curriculum which took a fair number of hours. However the new curriculum is better organized, and it is always good for the students to have some sort of text they can reference.