There was nothing like getting that email at 5:30 in the morning: "NOVA ALERT - Due to weather Villanova University will be closed March 1st." That email offered the opportunity to either go back to sleep or get up and enjoy a nice leisurely morning, drinking a cup of coffee and watching it snow. I am sure the … Continue reading Is One of The Perks of Being a Teacher Gone Forever?
The Linda Lindas, a young, half-Asian, half-Latinx group comprised of two sisters (Lucia,14 and Mila,10), their cousin (Eloise,13), and close friend (Bela,16), recently performed their song “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library. The song went viral, collecting nearly 4 million views on Twitter. The clip opens with Mila introducing the song, which … Continue reading Music Monday: The Linda Lindas – Punk Is Alive and Well in the U.S.
Given the nature of what was covered in my classes yesterday, I decided to teach virtually using Zoom. I feel pretty comfortable using Zoom, but it had been a while since I used it for a full class. In addition, this would be my first time using a Windows-based laptop for Zoom, since my Macbook … Continue reading The Third Time Is a Charm
According to a recent Wall Street Journal article by Ray Smith, in face-to-face meetings, physical charisma often goes a long way in helping someone get noticed and advance in their career. More reserved or shy types are often at a disadvantage. But physical charisma can be more challenging to replicate online—creating a potentially different pecking … Continue reading Is This My Chance to Finally Be Charismatic?
As part of my preparation for this semester, I had to make sure I was comfortable with the various features of Zoom. I didn't want to be fumbling around in the middle of a live Zoom session with a roomful of students trying to figure out how to record the session, share a screen, or … Continue reading Forget About Learning How to Zoom, I Need to Learn How to Smize
I’ve always said one of my greatest strengths as a teacher is the ability to take a room full of young, energetic students and within minutes have a few of them on the edge of REM sleep. I get it. For some people, accounting is not the most interesting topic to sit and listen to. … Continue reading Now I Know What My Students Must Feel Like
Trust in God But Tie Your Camel is an Arab proverb and one of the reported sayings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. According to Tirmidhi, one day Mohammed noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I placed my trust … Continue reading “Trust in God, But Tie Your Camel”
It's different, to say the least. That's me, teaching to a class of 25 students in real-time, using Zoom. Who knew that an old desk could be used as a teaching podium. Today was Day 4. and I've made a tech mistake each of the first four days. Here's a recap of those mistakes: on … Continue reading Teaching to a Screenful of Students
Steve Jobs famously said in his Stanford graduation speech: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let … Continue reading Everything in My Life Has Led to This Moment
Last night, I was grateful for the opportunity to be part of a Zoom get-together of fellow bloggers. I only knew one of the bloggers beforehand, Ray Visotski, having had the chance to meet him for lunch last December when he happened to be in the Philadelphia area. Ray sent me an invite earlier in … Continue reading Thanks to Bud Light, Odd Man Out, Again
Borden's Blather 