January is Official Organization Month

Happy New Year! Well, ER is using the entire month of January to GET ORGANIZED. So, despite having a class cancel out at the 13th hour, ER is officially prepared for the other class. All materials have been printed off, 3 hold punched and put in a binder in chronological order. Also, all reading and homework assignments have been entered in ye old Palm Pilot.

When this little electronic wonder dies, ER's world will go down the drain with it.  Even though I have a backup on my Outlook, I think the program's so ancient, if I bought a new one and tried to synch the two -- it'd be like talking Sanskrit to someone fluent only in English. I suppose I should upgrade since I purchased the bottom feeder Zire Palm but it's been a lil' trooper! Have never had any problems. Now that I've said that, of course, it'll implode in a tiny fire ball of malfunction.

If Santa failed to gift you with orgnanization this holiday season, ER recommends getting a PDA, like the Zire, or using the cell phone's organizational abilities or get an ol' fashioned book organizer -- to assist in keeping oneself academically on track.

AS ER examines the incoming syllabi , there seems to be a new educational trend cresting the horizon? Seems to be an awful lot of "journaling" or mini-papers lately. ER's educator anntenae are twitching....Hmmmmm, feels like Professors are looking for validation students are doing the reading. For all those classes you sat in where the professor asked a question regarding the reading -- oh you know anywhere from the academically polite -- "Who would like to discuss the the main problem in the case study this week?" or the covert "Are there any questions regarding the readings? I know it was very dense. So, any questions? No questions? Really?...." to the exceptionally painful "OK, did anyone do the reading from last week? Because if not, there isn't going to much of a class tonight..." And you could hear a pin drop? Well, welcome to journaling folks! And, really, we have no one to blame but ourselves.

However, the journaling could also be a great tool in which to gage student levels of knowledge and comprehension as well as potentially provide a warning sign if students are gonig off track or clearly not comprehending something. It could also be a good showcase of student writing abilities and also take the heat off the "uber" paper. A lot of little papers over a longer period of time, is far better than the Giant Paper due at the end of the semester. Due to life events ER knows all about the perils of the Giant Paper and failure to produce the paper by the end of the semester -- give me the mini's over the maxi anyday.

What's your opinion on the journaling and mini-papers (often called opinion papers)? Does it feel particularly penal or is it for the good of all -- student comprehension and gauge of learning for the instructor?

ER wishes you all the ability to stay focused and organized and hopes the rest of spring semester goes well. Much good luck and best wishes to all but especially those graduating this semester. ER hopes to be included in the ranks. Can't imagine not attending class at Suffolk but am looking forward to an expanding professional role in higher education.  It's an exciting time in the US right now. There's a new administration coming in and perhaps a more thoughtful and inclusive national (and international) direction can be sustained. Peace to all in 2009.