Comments for WU GSAS Summer Workshops Blog http://liberman.wordpress.com Tue, 23 Jan 2007 03:50:36 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Setting the tone in the blog vs. the classroom by rhan http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/18/setting-the-tone-in-the-blog-vs-the-classroom/#comment-49 rhan Tue, 23 Jan 2007 03:50:36 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/18/setting-the-tone-in-the-blog-vs-the-classroom/#comment-49 As an undergraduate, I would like to refute Carver's assumption. A relaxed demeanor in class is often very helpful, allowing students to focus on the subject matter at hand without worrying about interacting with the instructor or being too self-conscious about questions. If you know your material and can communicate that, your students will respect you and work for you. Several of my favorite professors have used strategies similar to Courtney's, and I would suggest "The Politics of the English Language" for all of your sections. Also, if your prose is slightly elevated in the blog, that reinforces the important differences between oral and written communication. So, rock on, Shirey. As an undergraduate, I would like to refute Carver’s assumption. A relaxed demeanor in class is often very helpful, allowing students to focus on the subject matter at hand without worrying about interacting with the instructor or being too self-conscious about questions. If you know your material and can communicate that, your students will respect you and work for you. Several of my favorite professors have used strategies similar to Courtney’s, and I would suggest “The Politics of the English Language” for all of your sections. Also, if your prose is slightly elevated in the blog, that reinforces the important differences between oral and written communication. So, rock on, Shirey.

]]> Comment on How to use tools without endorsing brands? by grogblog http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-46 grogblog Thu, 15 Jun 2006 18:20:52 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-46 I think the silly names come from silly computer scientists who are writing programs for free (and hence don't have to have a professional sounding name). Gimp is an acronym for GNU image manipulation program, and GNU is an acronym for GNU's not unix (it's a recursive acronym; again more silliness) which basically refers to free programs under a certain special open source license. You can read about GNU at www.gnu.org. --Greg I think the silly names come from silly computer scientists who are writing programs for free (and hence don’t have to have a professional sounding name). Gimp is an acronym for GNU image manipulation program, and GNU is an acronym for GNU’s not unix (it’s a recursive acronym; again more silliness) which basically refers to free programs under a certain special open source license. You can read about GNU at http://www.gnu.org.
–Greg

]]> Comment on A good resource for choosing a wiki… by Courtney http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/19/a-good-resource-for-choosing-a-wiki/#comment-45 Courtney Fri, 26 May 2006 14:01:49 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/19/a-good-resource-for-choosing-a-wiki/#comment-45 Thanks for the list, Ryan. It's good to have a comparison chart all in one place. I don't think I'd be able to pick one over the other without a specific project in mind. But it does go to support my comment to Greg's recent post (the variety of stupid names out there--SnoutHold Cospire? Schtuff? StikiPad? These names alone make me less apt to consider them. --Courtney Thanks for the list, Ryan. It’s good to have a comparison chart all in one place. I don’t think I’d be able to pick one over the other without a specific project in mind. But it does go to support my comment to Greg’s recent post (the variety of stupid names out there–SnoutHold Cospire? Schtuff? StikiPad? These names alone make me less apt to consider them.
–Courtney

]]> Comment on How to use tools without endorsing brands? by Courtney http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-44 Courtney Fri, 26 May 2006 13:56:29 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-44 Thanks for the suggestion, Greg. Which leads me to a side question. Why must these online sources have such silly names? Gimp? What kind of argument is that for something that actually works? I wish that these sources would sound a bit more professional. Which is why I like wordpress. --Courtney Thanks for the suggestion, Greg. Which leads me to a side question. Why must these online sources have such silly names? Gimp? What kind of argument is that for something that actually works? I wish that these sources would sound a bit more professional. Which is why I like wordpress.

–Courtney

]]> Comment on How to use tools without endorsing brands? by grogblog http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-43 grogblog Thu, 18 May 2006 21:35:58 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-43 I don't know how well-known this is, but there is an open source alternative to photoshop called the gimp. (See www.gimp.org) It is supposed to be comparable in functionality to photoshop, although it is somewhat difficult to learn. I just thought I would mention this just as something to consider (perhaps for the future since learning an entire new program such as this would take a long time). Not only is the gimp free, but (to agree with something that was mentioned earlier) I think open source software is more inline with the academic spirit. A more practical suggestion would be to stick with photoshop and the version that the computer labs have, since that seems to be the fairest (and easiest) solution. --Greg I don’t know how well-known this is, but there is an open source alternative to photoshop called the gimp. (See http://www.gimp.org) It is supposed to be comparable in functionality to photoshop, although it is somewhat difficult to learn. I just thought I would mention this just as something to consider (perhaps for the future since learning an entire new program such as this would take a long time). Not only is the gimp free, but (to agree with something that was mentioned earlier) I think open source software is more inline with the academic spirit.
A more practical suggestion would be to stick with photoshop and the version that the computer labs have, since that seems to be the fairest (and easiest) solution.
–Greg

]]> Comment on Setting the tone in the blog vs. the classroom by gwcarver http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/18/setting-the-tone-in-the-blog-vs-the-classroom/#comment-42 gwcarver Thu, 18 May 2006 19:44:02 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/18/setting-the-tone-in-the-blog-vs-the-classroom/#comment-42 I agree; students often do expect a relaxed demeanor in the classroom to translate into an acceptance of leisurely perfomance on the part of students. Consequently, behaving in a strict and formal fashion becomes more attractive for the instructor. I agree; students often do expect a relaxed demeanor in the classroom to translate into an acceptance of leisurely perfomance on the part of students. Consequently, behaving in a strict and formal fashion becomes more attractive for the instructor.

]]> Comment on Setting the tone in the blog vs. the classroom by Courtney http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/18/setting-the-tone-in-the-blog-vs-the-classroom/#comment-41 Courtney Thu, 18 May 2006 19:41:02 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/18/setting-the-tone-in-the-blog-vs-the-classroom/#comment-41 A good question! I find that although my voice is informal, I have options to modify their expectations. First, have previous papers from other sections saved to Telesis. At the end of the semeseter, I ask students to give me permission to use their work for teaching purposes. Thus, when an assignment is coming due, we can "workshop" previous submissions, noting stratagies, strengths, and weaknesses. Students have a real chance to see how I respond to papers--and they see that I don't softball them. Also, since I am a bit of a performer, I switch into a "serious" voice. Usually it involves a lower voice, leaning forward to experss how earnest I am (studied, perhaps, but earnest) when I establish the expectations I have. Since it's a process-oriented writing course, the number of steps I include leading up to writing usually gives them a sense of the amount of time and attention I expect. And I do a lot of soap-boxing about the importance of writing clearly. A good question! I find that although my voice is informal, I have options to modify their expectations. First, have previous papers from other sections saved to Telesis. At the end of the semeseter, I ask students to give me permission to use their work for teaching purposes. Thus, when an assignment is coming due, we can “workshop” previous submissions, noting stratagies, strengths, and weaknesses. Students have a real chance to see how I respond to papers–and they see that I don’t softball them.

Also, since I am a bit of a performer, I switch into a “serious” voice. Usually it involves a lower voice, leaning forward to experss how earnest I am (studied, perhaps, but earnest) when I establish the expectations I have.

Since it’s a process-oriented writing course, the number of steps I include leading up to writing usually gives them a sense of the amount of time and attention I expect. And I do a lot of soap-boxing about the importance of writing clearly.

]]> Comment on Hopes for the Future–after the workshop by storm http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/16/hopes-for-the-future-after-the-workshop/#comment-40 storm Thu, 18 May 2006 19:36:39 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/16/hopes-for-the-future-after-the-workshop/#comment-40 I do, however, think that you need to be sure that you don't let the whole course be shaped by only one student. The students who actually attend the course might resent this, especially if they have to do online chats primarily for the benefit of one person who they don't even know. I do, however, think that you need to be sure that you don’t let the whole course be shaped by only one student. The students who actually attend the course might resent this, especially if they have to do online chats primarily for the benefit of one person who they don’t even know.

]]> Comment on How to use tools without endorsing brands? by anthroillustration http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-39 anthroillustration Thu, 18 May 2006 19:36:38 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/14/how-to-use-tools-without-endorsing-brands/#comment-39 This is definitely going to be an issue for me next year as I'm trying to teach students how to produce scientific illustrations using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I'm going to try to teach as much as I can about these applications through directing them to online movie tutorials to at least get them familiar with the software, and thus freeing up as much time as possible for them to actually use the software during class time. I don't know how fair it is going to be to require students to work on projects with this software outside of class, since some may have the programs but most won't. Also, I haven't figured out what to do about different versions of the software. I know CS2 best, but some students might have earlier versions, and I think the software available in here is an earlier version as well. This is definitely going to be an issue for me next year as I’m trying to teach students how to produce scientific illustrations using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I’m going to try to teach as much as I can about these applications through directing them to online movie tutorials to at least get them familiar with the software, and thus freeing up as much time as possible for them to actually use the software during class time. I don’t know how fair it is going to be to require students to work on projects with this software outside of class, since some may have the programs but most won’t. Also, I haven’t figured out what to do about different versions of the software. I know CS2 best, but some students might have earlier versions, and I think the software available in here is an earlier version as well.

]]> Comment on Hopes for the Future–after the workshop by kate18 http://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/16/hopes-for-the-future-after-the-workshop/#comment-38 kate18 Thu, 18 May 2006 19:34:03 +0000 https://liberman.wordpress.com/2006/05/16/hopes-for-the-future-after-the-workshop/#comment-38 Wow, having a student from another country would be incredibly challenging, but also really exciting. Do you think you'll have your class participate in some form of online discussions more than you might otherwise?? Wow, having a student from another country would be incredibly challenging, but also really exciting. Do you think you’ll have your class participate in some form of online discussions more than you might otherwise??

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